Increasing low income employee participation in a worksite health promotion program: a comparison of three common strategies

The relative effectiveness of three common strat- egies to increase participation in worksite health promotion programs was assessed. The inter- ventions, designed for low income employees, were (1) written information, (2) written information and an informational meeting, and (3) written information, an information meeting and a group contest Thirty teams of low income employees were randomly allocated to receive one of the three interventions. Participation was measured at baseline and at follow-up. Team participation did not vary by strategy but indi- vidual participation was more likely for those offered the contest than for those provided only written information or written information and a meeting. Even under the most intensive recruitment condition, however, few teams and housekeepers participated in the health promo- tion program. Interviews were conducted with housekeepers to obtain reasons for participation and non-participation, and to identify sugges- tions for facilitating participation.