When planning a health promotion program for employees, which source of information should be used to assess their needs?

Using health-risk appraisals as a source of information to assess employees' needs is particularly valuable in planning a health promotion program. Health-risk appraisals provide a systematic approach to evaluate the health status and risk factors among employees. This tool typically includes a questionnaire that gathers information about personal health behaviors (such as nutrition, exercise, smoking, and stress levels) and medical history, which can help in identifying specific areas where employees may require more support or education.

The information obtained from health-risk appraisals is quantitative and can highlight prevalent health issues within the workforce, allowing for targeted interventions that address the most significant health risks. Furthermore, these appraisals can establish baseline metrics to measure the effectiveness of the health promotion programs over time, thereby guiding future initiatives.

Employee feedback surveys and focus groups can also provide insights, but they may not offer the same level of detailed health information required to create a tailored program. Industry trends can indicate broader health issues but may not reflect the specific needs of the employees in a particular organization. Health-risk appraisals are therefore the most relevant choice for assessing the health needs of employees in the process of planning a health promotion program.