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Abstract

Background

Workplaces, including universities, are increasingly sedentary. While Exercise is Medicine®-On Campus (EIM-OC) programs promote campus-wide physical activity, employees are seldom targeted. Additionally, little information exists on their available health and wellness resources.

Objectives

1) To describe the extent to which universities digitally promote physical activity, health, and wellness to their employees, and 2) to compare differences in human resources (HR)-supported wellness programs and frequency of wellness and physical activity offerings between EIM-OC and non-EIM-OC universities, and between EIM-OC recognition statuses.

Methods

A cross-sectional series of standardized website audits was conducted on all US-based public EIM-OC universities (n = 79) and matched universities without an EIM-OC program (n = 79) as of July 2024. Each university's HR, wellness, recreation, and EIM-OC (if applicable) websites were audited.

Results

The presence of HR-supported wellness programs did not differ based on the presence of an EIM-OC program (p = 0.806) or by recognition status (p = 0.878). One HR website promoted its university's EIM-OC program. Most universities (79.1%) had a wellness initiative website. Social wellness was significantly promoted more (p = 0.004) at EIM-OC universities than at non-EIM-OC universities. Seven EIM-OC programs were promoted on these websites. Almost all universities (97.5%) offered employee recreational memberships, but only 47 offered employees reduced prices. Only 33 EIM-OC universities (41.8%) had websites for their program. Five (15.2%) mentioned targeted resources for employees.

Conclusion

Employees receive fewer health and wellness resources compared to students, regardless of EIM-OC presence. Future studies should investigate how organizational factors affect the dissemination and coordination of university wellness resources, including EIM-OC programs.

Keywords

workplace wellness university employees EIM-OC health promotion preventive health employee health

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Promotion of physical activity and wellness to employees by Exercise is Medicine®-On Campus and non-participating universities