Energize Your Life

Physical activity has been shown to increase and maintain the health of the population. Often, worksite wellness programs fail to increase the number of employees who are physically active. The results of worksite physical inactivity are lower productivity, greater absenteeism, and increased health risk factors. The aim of the quality improvement (QI) initiative was to increase the percentage of the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) employees who participate in physical activity (150 minutes/week) from 50.3% to 60.3% by December 2010. The team used a wellness program assessment tool and found SRHD offered the lowest level of programming. The team held focus groups to hear staff’s barriers to physical activity and created a fishbone diagram to organize and categorize the barriers.The team researched potential solutions using The Community Guide, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and worksite wellness best practices. The team brainstormed a list of solutions using best practices that addressed the barriers to staff meeting the minimum of 150 minutes per week of physical activity. By offering multiple types of physical activities for staff to be involved in, stressing social support, convenience, and rewards, more staff would obtain at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week.