Impact of a worksite physical wellness programme on sick leave, absenteeism and health-related fitness in a South African company

This study examined the impact of a physical wellness programme on sick leave, absenteeism and health-related fitness in a South African company. Sixty-eight black African males (mean age 44.8 years) performing physical labour were involved in the study, with subjects being randomly assigned to either a control group (n=34) or an experimental group (n=34). The control group was requested to continue with their established lifestyles, while the experimental group participated in a 6-month physical wellness programme. It included the attending of one wellness workshop, the following of a Biokinetic home exercise programme with a frequency and duration of at least three sessions of forty-five minutes per week. Both groups were evaluated by means of a questionnaire and a clinical and physical evaluation before the intervention of the physical wellness programme and immediately thereafter. Sick leave and absenteeism data for both groups were recorded and compared before and during the intervention programme. The experimental group showed statistically significant differences (p £ 0.05) in the clinical and physical evaluation of systolic blood pressure between the pre- and post-test (pre: 135 ± 26.85mmHg; post: 127 ± 19.94mmHg) and between the pre- and post-test for hamstring and lower back flexibility (pre: 32.8 ± 9.10cm; post: 34.5 ± 8.23cm) (p £ 0.001). The most significant statistical change was between the pre- and post-test of the sick leave and absenteeism days (p £ 0.01) of the experimental group (pre: 6.3 ± 15.35; post: 1.4 ± 3.3) compared to the control group (pre: 4.9 ± 5.7; post: 4.6 ± 6.03). It is concluded that a worksite physical wellness programme where a home-based Biokinetic exercise programme was performed, and a wellness workshop addressing all the wellness dimensions was presented, had a positive impact on sick leave, absenteeism and health-related fitness. Key Words: Physical wellness programme, sick leave, absenteeism, fitness. AJPHERD. Vol.10(1) 2004: 42-5