The prevalence of health promotion in health maintenance organizations

The focus of this study was to assess the prevalence of health promotion programs within Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) in 1996 and compare this prevalence to health promotion efforts by HMOs in 1986. This comparison was made by utilizing responses to a similar study conducted by Constance T. Bernton in 1986. HMOs were systematically sampled from a database provided by the American Association of Health Plans. One-hundred sixty (160) HMOs, as a representative group of managed care organizations, were surveyed. A response rate of 38% resulted. The outcome of the study indicated that there was not a significant difference in the level of involvement in health promotion activities by HMOs surveyed in 1996 as compared with HMOs surveyed in 1986. Additionally, it was found that there was not a significant difference in prevalence of the following health promotion programs in 1986 versus 1996: smoking cessation, weight loss, diet/nutrition, and hypertension. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of stress management programs in 1986 as compared to 1996. It was found, that disease-state-management efforts are on the rise in HMOs, in 1996, and seem to be a predominant focus within these organizations.