Health risk appraisal in an occupational setting and its impact on exercise behavior.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a health risk appraisal (HRA) activity on exercise intention and behavior modification. In a mixed experimental and quasiexperimental design, three groups of subjects were formed: (1) preintervention, (2) postintervention, and (3) control. In the experimental design, the results showed that the employees in the postintervention group had, immediately after the HRA activity, an increased intention to exercise regularly compared with the employees in the preintervention group. According to the quasiexperimental design, the employees exposed to the HRA activity did not, 2 months later, report regular exercise behavior that differed from that of the employees in the comparison group. It is suggested that an HRA activity should be supplemented with regular additional interventions over a given period of time to be successful in supporting the process of translating exercise intention into behavior.