Development of a Wellness Committee Implementation Index for Workplace Health Promotion Programs in Small Businesses

Purpose: To construct a wellness committee (WC) implementation index and determine whether this index was associated with evidence-based intervention implementation in a workplace health promotion program. Design: Secondary data analysis of the HealthLinks randomized controlled trial. Setting: Small businesses assigned to the HealthLinks plus WC study arm. Sample: Small businesses (20-200 employees, n = 23) from 6 low-wage industries in King County, Washington. Measures: Wellness committee implementation index (0%-100%) and evidence-based intervention implementation (0%-100%). Analysis: We used descriptive and bivariate statistics to describe worksites' organizational characteristics. For the primary analyses, we used generalized estimating equations with robust standard errors to assess the association between WC implementation index and evidence-based intervention implementation over time. Results: Average WC implementation index scores were 60% at 15 months and 38% at 24 months. Evidence-based intervention scores among worksites with WCs were 27% points higher at 15 months (64% vs 37%, P < .001) and 36% points higher at 24 months (55% vs 18%, P < .001). Higher WC implementation index scores were positively associated with evidence-based intervention implementation scores over time (P < .001). Conclusion: Wellness committees may play an essential role in supporting evidence-based intervention implementation among small businesses. Furthermore, the degree to which these WCs are engaged and have leadership support, a set plan or goals, and multilevel participation may influence evidence-based intervention implementation and maintenance over time.