ROCHESTER, MINN. -- Credibility of the source is the most important factor when organizations select and distribute wellness materials to their employees, a survey conducted by Mayo Clinic HealthQuest reveals.
"Reliability of the content is clearly more important than cost," says Dick Haynes, senior vice-president of research at Frank N. Magid and Associates, Inc., the firm that conducted the research. "Employers believe health information resources such as newsletters that provide practical self-care and prevention information are good investments. They are valuable for employees and good for the organization."
The second most important consideration is the topic selection found in the materials, followed by price. Of these top three factors, credibility of the source was rated very important by 82 percent of respondents; topic selection was rated very important by 75 percent; and price by 65 percent. (N=239).
The study polled employers, membership organizations and health plan providers. Health newsletters are provided to employees by 65 percent of those surveyed. Self-care books are provided by 35 percent; 19 percent provide online health information to their employees, and 18 percent provide a nurseline service. (N=239).
Seventy percent of medium-sized organizations surveyed provided health newsletters, as did 66 percent of small organizations and 59 percent of large organizations. Companies were considered small if they had less than 400 employees or members; medium, 400-2,000 employees or members; and large, more than 2,000 employees or members. Wellness directors, occupational health nurses, benefits managers, human resources managers and medical directors participated in the survey.
The survey also showed that more large and small companies provide online health information to their employees than do medium-sized companies.
Frank N. Magid and Associates, Inc., conducted this research on behalf of Mayo Clinic HealthQuest, a service that provides health information resources to businesses, corporations and member organizations. For more information about Mayo Clinic HealthQuest, call 1-800-430-9699.
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