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If you're a company looking for guidance to establish an effective workplace wellness program, a new study indicates that one place to start might be in college.

The study, titled “Worksite health promotion programs in college settings” and published in the Journal of Education and Health Promotion, sought to “describe the multifaceted nature and benefits of worksite health promotion programs (WHPPs), with emphasis on the college setting.” It further notes that “Most studies examining WHPPs have focused on return on investment and productivity. Research that targets the softer side-benefits of health promotion programs in the workplace is less available.”

As most know, effective program design is not a simple task. The report states: “Successful programs require management and senior leadership support, dedicated staffing and resources, a culture of health, incentives and rewards, and a program evaluation strategy.”

Another reason the study looks at college settings: “College campuses are more akin to small communities with employees ranging from service workers to senior level faculty and administrators. A literature review involving 18 programs identified best practices for university-based health and wellness programs.[20] The programs represented a variety of structured and non-structured programs. Structured programs were shown to have the greatest impact in improving overall employee health. Only 6 of the 18 programs involved formal evaluations, but they provided evidence the WHPPs could significantly decrease weight, body mass index, hypertension, and blood cholesterol in a college setting.”

Through research, the study notes the elements of a successful worksite health promotion program: “To be effective in fulfilling the evolving needs of college faculty, staff, and administrators WHPPs should strive to meet and follow certain core criteria. The overlapping themes and goals for creating a successful WHPP are synthesized in the list below. These themes stem from the guidelines, pillars of success, benchmarks, and components of successful programs that have produced the greatest returns on investment.”

These include guidelines that are similar to ones around corporate programs:

• “Establish a business case for the program specific to the school”
• “Have a comprehensive plan that addresses the business case”
• “Have management support at all levels”
• “Assess the needs of the population and provide quality, relevant programs that address those needs.”
• “Establish, align, and integrate the WHPP into the campus culture.”
• “Use a variety of methods to communicate effectively with faculty, staff, and administrators.”
• “Be accessible and make the WHPP convenient.”
• “Individualize programs and services as much as possible.”
• “Create partnerships within the school and community.”
• “Measure and evaluate the WHPP's effectiveness regularly.”

The report concludes: “College-based WHPPs can be a vehicle by which health education and health-related behavior skills can be taught. Time, culture, peer support, management support, and the ability to provide materials, motivation, and skills training can make an important impact on the health of employees and bottom line of an employer. Research supports the efficacy of WHPPs in terms of both direct costs (health care and works compensation) and indirect costs (absenteeism, presenteeism, and retention). Data focused on healthcare costs, claims and absenteeism are most prevalent, and research that targets the softer side benefits of health promotion programs are less available.”