Health promoting lifestyle at a distance for rehabilitation

Purpose and goal:

Lifestyle medicine at a distance is designed to offer early health promotion support to staff at risk of sick leave due to lifestyle-related illness. A health diary and digital exercise material support participants to build a personal repertoire of relaxation exercises, physical activity and simple recipes for healthy meals. The program is experience based, i.e. is about actually performing exercises, cooking, relaxation, listening to short lectures and reflecting. Our aim is that the tool will help reduce sickness absence in workplaces.

Expected results and effects:

The project resulted in all unit managers within Sollefteå kommun being informed about the program where the expectations were 75%. The number of participants who have started is 34 (50 were expected), of which 20 have completed the programme so far. The effects for many participants are healthier eating habits, more physical activity and an experience of better daily routines.

Managers have been able to be more proactive as there is a concrete tool to offer. They also express that they want to be able to continue offering this tool! Approach and implementation:

A joint steering group composed of the municipality´s HR staff and experts from Lifestyle Medicine was set up. The steering group monitored the project and was responsible for the evaluation. The steering group contacted and informed managers within the municipality about the project, who then selected the participants.

The health educator then contacted the participants for a health survey and instructions. A final health consultation was held at the end of the course. Lastly, an email was sent to the manager stating that the participant had completed the course.