A Case Study Evaluation of Two Corporate Employee Participation Wellness Programs: The Cessna Comprehensive Wellness Program Compared to the Kautex Non-Comprehensive Wellness Program

This study investigated the influence of comprehensiveness in a comprehensive and non-comprehensive corporate wellness program. The data were comprised of three distinct and complimentary sources: archival data from surveys previously administered to Cessna employees, an original survey administered to Kautex employees, and individual interviews conducted with Kautex employees. Three research methods created a triangulation approach with which to study the influence of comprehensiveness between the Cessna and Kautex corporate wellness programs were: action research, case study methodology, and cross-case analysis. A mixed methodology was selected for this research in which both quantitative and qualitative research methods were utilized. Specifically, the forced-choice items from the archival survey, the original survey, and the individual interviews were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas the open-ended items from both surveys and the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.;Although results did not find a significant relationship between comprehensiveness and participation rate in the two corporate wellness programs studied, results identified several factors and program elements that appear to promote and inhibit participation. For example, elements that are influential in attending the Cessna comprehensive program include the behavior change modification component, health risk assessment (HRA), and physical exam of the Cessna program. Factors that influence comprehensive program participation include creation of a positive atmosphere in which program participants enjoy their participation, presentation of specific program information, and comprehending benefits achieved through program participation. In contrast, lack of program information for potential program recipients emerged as a factor inhibiting employees from fully participating in the wellness programs. This research is significant in an organization that is struggling to understand how participation rates in corporate wellness programs can be increased.