debunking 4 myths about health assessments

D I S P E L L I N G

4 MYTHSABOUT

Today’s best health assessments identify individual health risk and measure motivation to change unhealthy behaviors.

About 20 percent of all worksites currently use health assessments as a tool with their wellness program according to a recent National Worksite Health Promotion Survey.

And this percentage continuesto grow.

BUT NOT ALLhealth assessmentsare created equal.

As health assessments gain broader use among employers and health plans, as well as in clinical settings, separating these four myths from reality can help potential users focus on their true value.

HEALTH ASSESSMENTSCAN STAND ALONE

AS BOTH TOOL & INTERVENTION

for health

behavior change

MYTH 1

Health assessments can serve as mechanisms to trigger engagement in behavior change and health improvement.

Best practice

SYMPTOMS OF

MYTH2QUESTIONS SHOULD TARGET

HEALTH ASSESSMENT

CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Health assessment questions should identify precursor behaviors that lead to chronic conditions later.

Best practice

FOR EXAMPLEBehavior patterns that align with a cluster of nutritional negatives, such as eating out too often.

A VALID HEALTH ASSESSMENT

IS ALL ABOUT ASSESSING

long-term risk

MYTH 3

Assessing long-term chronic health risk is just one piece of the puzzle. Effective health assessments also drill down to the emotions and beliefs that drive behavior.

Best practice

WHEN PEOPLE GET A REPORTOF THEIR DISEASE RISK, THEY WILL EXPERIENCE

AN EPIPHANY& change unhealthy habits

MYTH 4

When people get a health assessment report of their disease risk, they need actionable feedback for health improvement in bite-sized pieces—and follow-up support.

Best practice

that the health assessment you use is a

mechanism for raising awareness and

triggering engagement with participants—

and an effective tool for guiding strategic

health management strategies?

(STACY—EXAMPLES OF VISUALS FOR SYMPTOMS—FA-TIGUE, PAIN, WEIGHT CHANGES)

HOW CAN YOU ENSURE

triggeringengagement

raising awareness

effectivetool

Download our eBook “Dispelling the 4 myths of health assessments,” by Dennis Richling, M.D., HealthFitness chief medical director and wellness officer.

© 2014 Health Fitness Corporation

800.639.7913 | www.healthfitness.com

Learn more about best practices with health assessments used with worksite wellness programs.