Evaluation of a Worksite-Based Small Group Team Challenge to Increase Physical Activity.

Purpose: To investigate whether participants in a small group team challenge had greater completion rates in an institution-wide step-challenge than other participants.

Design: A quasi-experimental, posttest-only design with a comparison group was used to evaluate group differences in completion rates.

Setting: A large university system provided the opportunity to participate in a physical activity challenge.

How Do Stages of Change for Physical Activity Relate to Employee Sign-Up for and Completion of a Worksite Physical Activity Competition?

Introduction: This study evaluated whether stages of change for physical activity (PA) predict sign-up, participation, and completion in a PA competition.

Method: Deidentified data were provided to evaluate a PA competition between 16 different institutions from a public university system. Employees who completed a health assessment (HA) prior to the start of the PA competition ( n = 6,333) were included in the study.

Modestly increased use of colonoscopy when copayments are waived.

Background & Aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with colonoscopy often requires expensive copayments from patients. The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act mandated elimination of copayments for CRC screening, including colonoscopy, but little is known about the effects of copayment elimination on use. The University of Texas employee, retiree, and dependent health plan instituted and promoted a waiver of copayments for screening colonoscopies in fiscal year (FY) 2009; we examined the effects of removing cost sharing on colonoscopy use.