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Most employees are looking to employers for resources to help them choose healthier behaviors and manage healthcare, according to a report from Hewitt Associates.

A study by Hewitt revealed that health risk questionnaires (HRQs) and other tools may influence healthy behaviors by helping employees more easily understand and address their healthcare needs.

Among survey participants who completed an HRQ through their company:

• Three-quarters of employees found the results helpful;
• More than 40 percent learned something they did not previously know about their health; and
• More than half took actions to reduce or manage potential health risks.

But despite the overall positive results of an HRQ, the Hewitt study also found that an HRQ is only as valuable as its follow-up activities. Only 32 percent of HRQ participants reported that they were required to complete a follow-up.

To maintain the momentum of awareness that a questionnaire provides, companies need to employ programs to encourage employees to take action against health risks, said Jennifer Murphy, Hewitt healthcare communication leader.

Moreover, the majority of participants (80 percent) worry that their healthcare coverage will ultimately become unaffordable and that choosing a healthcare plan that fits their needs is becoming too complex. Although the majority of employees believe their employers provide sufficient tools and information about the selection and use of their plans, only half say they use the tools effectively, the study found.

Companies who wish to see improvement in healthy behaviors should implement incentive and reward programs to reinforce healthy lifestyle choices throughout the year, rather than just at enrollment, Murphy also suggested.

"As healthcare plans become more complex, it’s crucial that employers have a year-round strategy that includes ways to promote the tools and educate employees and their families. Bottom line, companies need to be the ones who support and influence consumers’ healthcare behaviors," Murphy said.

Address: Hewitt Associates, 100 Half Day Road, Lincolnshire, IL 60069; (847) 295-5000, www.hewitt.com.