Improvement of Health Indicators after Participating in Health Promotion Program of General Hospital Staff: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND@#An 8-week health program is achieved for health providers in a general hospital in Seoul to verify whether health parameters are enhanced by improving life habits. We want to examine the effect of this program with measuring health parameters and exercise ability. This study is performed as a pilot study, and the goal is to introduce the outcome of health program with experimental methods.@*METHODS@#Participants of this research consist of 42 health providers who were overweight, and they enrolled an 8-week health program in 2015. They took a class about improving eating habits and recorded daily diet. Moreover, they implemented exercise program with encouraging active participation by rewarding members who attended the program frequently.@*RESULTS@#The result is analyzed with 31 participants who finished the program. There are 4 men whose physical indices correspond with the criteria of metabolic syndrome. Otherwise, 27 women have physical indices below the criteria. The result indicates that physical indices would not reveal meaningful changes. However, basal fitness comprised of flexibility, sit-up, and back muscle strength implies meaningful improvement.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Even though there were some problems to revise in exercise intervention, it was accomplished systematically while nutrition intervention was not controlled strictly. In addition, factors including inspiring the enrollment of men and extending the period of program should be considered to improve the next program. The final goal of the health promoting hospital is to improve the health of health providers by sustaining this program with developing exercise and nutrition intervention in detail.