[Work site health promotion in Germany--1: Program availability and effect on occupational characteristics]

Abstract

Worksite health promotion and disease prevention is becoming more and more established in Germany. This study investigates the state of the health programmes utilising a representative sample of 116 companies with company health insurance. 105 companies answered the detailed questions during phone interviews or using written questionnaires. 60% of the companies offer worksite health promotion and disease prevention programmes. The focus is mainly on behavioural aspects, while structural aspects play a minor role within the programmes. To a great extent the health promotion and disease prevention programmes are independent of structural characteristics of the company and the company location. At present, an evaluation of the health benefits and cost-effectiveness of the health programmes is only of secondary interest.