Investigation of the Correlates and Effectiveness of a Prison-Based Wellness Program

Summary: In 2006, a comprehensive wellness intervention, titled Wellness Works, was implemented in an incarcerated male population at a 200-bed facility in LaGrange, Kentucky. The purpose of this study was to determine health risk factors and benefits of program participation by analyzing data from a pre-/post-participation health risk assessment (HRA). In total, 448 inmates completed the pre- HRA and 177 (40%) completed the post- HRA. Among program completers, two of the six measured domains (smoking and depression) showed significant improvement at the post- HRA while the other domains (exercise, nutrition, stress, and dental hygiene) did not show significant changes. Overall, this study shows positive signs of improving the health of the incarcerated population with this wellness program, but also points to the need for a controlled study.