The effects of different health risk appraisal feedback on health-related behaviors in a worksite population

Three commonly used health risk appraisals (HRAs) and a control were utilized in a worksite population to determine their impact on employees' health-related behaviours. A generic questionnaire was developed which included non-redundant items from three different HRA instruments, and was distributed to all 495 employees of an insurance company. Two hundred employees returned usable questionnaires and were randomly allocated into three HRA groups and a control. Each HRA group received different HRA-generated computer feedback while the control group received general health information. A follow-up questionnaire was distributed 3 weeks after employees received HRA or control feedback to measure reported health-related behaviours and satisfaction with the feed back. Statistical analyses revealed no differences between the HRA feedback conditions and the control with regard to changes in employees' reported health behavior.