Effects of a Classroom Training Program for Promoting Health Literacy Among IT Managers in the Workplace: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

IT managers have received limited attention in health literacy research, although they are subject to special professional demands. The aim of this study was to evaluate a training program designed to promote health literacy among managers. A randomized controlled trial with a sample of 171 industry managers from one IT company was conducted. Effects of classroom training on health literacy, psychological well-being, self-rated health, and cortisol awakening response were investigated using pre- (t0), post- (t1), and follow-up (t2) surveys. The intervention effects (time and group) were not significant for the primary outcome of health literacy. At the second measuring point, psychological well-being and self-rated health significantly decreased, and cortisol awakening response significantly increased. Our study did not show beneficial intervention effects of a training program on promoting health literacy.