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Abstract Introduction An integrated workplace health promotion program (WHPP) which targets multiple lifestyle themes at both the individual and organizational level is potentially more effective than a single component WHPP. The aim was to evaluate the effect of an integrated WHPP on the lifestyle of employees. Methods A two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial with measurements at baseline and six months was conducted. Working groups in the intervention condition implemented activities from a catalogue according to the integrated WHPP. The primary outcome was an overall lifestyle score, measured by the Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire, consisting of questions regarding diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking and stress. Effectiveness of the integrated WHPP on overall lifestyle score and the specific targeted lifestyle behaviors was analyzed using multilevel analysis. The Medical Ethical Committee of the VU University Medical Center approved the study protocol. Results Preliminary results of two organizations (n=90) are reported. The mean age of employees was 42 (SD = 12) years and 54% was female. The mean overall lifestyle score at baseline was 7 on a scale from 1-10 for both conditions. No significant changes on overall lifestyle were observed at six months follow up. Discussion A strength is the study design, which included the entire process of implementation and evaluation of the integrated WHPP. A limitation is that predominantly employees with a healthy lifestyle participated. Conclusion Preliminary results showed that the integrated WHPP has not yield an effect on lifestyle. This might be partly explained by the degree of implementation of the WHPP at six months follow-up.
Smit et al. (Mon,) studied this question.