Effectiveness of healthy organization by participatory encouragement (hope) project on reducing cardiovascular risk factors in employees of the electric generating authority of Thailand (EGAT)

Abstract

Objectives 1) To evaluate the knowledge, risk perceptions, and self-efficacy about CVD, CVD risk behaviors, health status, and community participation, 2) To develop the healthy organization by participatory encouragement (HOPE) project related to modify CVD risks by raising awareness, motivation, and abilities to action and also support the organizational capability to assess and control CVD risk factors, and 3) To evaluate effectiveness of the developed program involved with reducing CVD risk factors among the EGAT employees in the South Bangkok Power Plant in Samutprakarn province, Thailand over the period April 2011 to September 2012 Methods This study was one group pre- and posttest design using self-administrative questionnaires including demographic information, medical history, knowledge, risk perception, self-efficacy, smoking status, alcohol drinking habit, food frequency eating behavior, physical activity pattern, and stress level. RAMA-EGAT score was used as a tool for the total CVD risk calculation. Participatory approach was applied as a core process of the intervention development. HOPE project comprised 4 phases including 1) capacity building, 2) risk analysis, 3) problem solving and prevention, and 4) monitoring and dissemination. The effectiveness of HOPE project was evaluated through the change of knowledge, risk perception, self-efficacy, smoking status, alcohol drinking habit, food frequency eating behavior, physical activity pattern, and stress level, RAMA-EGAT score, body composition, and community participation. Results Of 507 employees at the South Bangkok Power Plant, 384 employees, aged between 22 – 60 years (mean ± SD; 48.2 ± 10.1 years, 85.7% were male) returned the questionnaires for the cross-sectional survey at baseline. Only 36 participants had willingly to attend the further exclusive intervention program. After intervention, the participants had a significantly increased the mean score of CVD knowledge (p = 0.040). Total CVD risk score and probability of CVD development in 10 years also showed the significantly decreasing of the mean score and percentage (p = 0.031 and p = 0.003). The change in 5 dimensions of community participation, only the dimensions of resource mobilization was observed the wide range between baseline and after intervention. Conclusion The findings revealed that the EGAT employees of South Bangkok Power Plant accepted the HOPE project quite well and the project was effective in increasing knowledge about CVD risk factors and reducing the total CVD risks. Increasing community participation was also a key success in the health promotion strategy in the workplace.