Is it worth it? Evaluating the economic impact of worksite health promotion

Abstract

In spite of the widely held belief that worksite health promotion programs lead to decreased health care costs, there has been little empirical evidence of this effect in the past. Because a primary reason for implementing these programs is the reduction of health care costs, this chapter focuses on research dealing with the economic impact of worksite programs. Guidelines for conducting evaluations are presented, and future trends in the organization and implementation of worksite health promotion programs are discussed.