Using a Social Capital Framework to Explore a Broker’s Role in Small Employer Wellness Program Uptake and Implementation

Michele Thornton; Kristen Hammerback; Jean M. Abraham; Lisa Brosseau; Jeffrey R. Harris; Laura A. Linnan

doi:10.1177/0890117120957159

Using a Social Capital Framework to Explore a Broker’s Role in Small Employer Wellness Program Uptake and Implementation

Michele Thornton, Kristen Hammerback, Jean M. Abraham, Lisa Brosseau, Jeffrey R. Harris, Laura A. Linnan

Health Policy and Management

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Small employers, while motivated to implement wellness programs, often lack knowledge and resources to do so. As a result, these firms rely on external decision-making support from insurance brokers. The objective of this study was to analyze brokers’ familiarity with wellness programs and to characterize their role and interactions with small employers. Design: Using a newly developed common interview guide (20 questions), protocol and analysis plan, 20 interviews were conducted with health insurance brokers in Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina and Washington in 2016 and 2017. In addition to exploring patterns of broker interactions and familiarity by segment, we propose a framework to conceptualize the broker-client relationship using social capital theory and the RE-AIM model. Methods: Interviews were transcribed, summarized and a common codebook was established using DeDoose. Themes were identified following multi-rater coding and structured within the framework. Results: Participating brokers reported having a high to moderate familiarity with wellness programs (65%) and a majority (80%) indicated that they have previously advised their small business clients on the availability and features of them. Further, we find that brokers may help eliminate barriers to resources and act as a connector to wellness opportunities within their professional network. Conclusion: New initiatives to promote small employer wellness programs can benefit from examining the influence of brokers on the decision-making process. When engaged and supported with resources, brokers may be effective champions for employer wellness programs.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	214-225
Number of pages	12
Journal	American Journal of Health Promotion
Volume	35
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117120957159
State	Published - Sep 11 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Illinois Prevention Research Center Supporting Policy and Environmental Change. We thank Ashley Phillips for her work on this project. We also extend our appreciation to the brokers and NAHU chapters that participated in this study. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention / NIOSH [Grant/Contract No: U48 DP005010-01S1(SIP14-031)].

Funding Information:
The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Illinois Prevention Research Center Supporting Policy and Environmental Change. We thank Ashley Phillips for her work on this project. We also extend our appreciation to the brokers and NAHU chapters that participated in this study.

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2020.

Keywords

health communications
interventions
workplace wellness

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10.1177/0890117120957159

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@article{807bc6068f224605822e15c18abc55de,

title = "Using a Social Capital Framework to Explore a Broker{\textquoteright}s Role in Small Employer Wellness Program Uptake and Implementation",

abstract = "Purpose: Small employers, while motivated to implement wellness programs, often lack knowledge and resources to do so. As a result, these firms rely on external decision-making support from insurance brokers. The objective of this study was to analyze brokers{\textquoteright} familiarity with wellness programs and to characterize their role and interactions with small employers. Design: Using a newly developed common interview guide (20 questions), protocol and analysis plan, 20 interviews were conducted with health insurance brokers in Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina and Washington in 2016 and 2017. In addition to exploring patterns of broker interactions and familiarity by segment, we propose a framework to conceptualize the broker-client relationship using social capital theory and the RE-AIM model. Methods: Interviews were transcribed, summarized and a common codebook was established using DeDoose. Themes were identified following multi-rater coding and structured within the framework. Results: Participating brokers reported having a high to moderate familiarity with wellness programs (65%) and a majority (80%) indicated that they have previously advised their small business clients on the availability and features of them. Further, we find that brokers may help eliminate barriers to resources and act as a connector to wellness opportunities within their professional network. Conclusion: New initiatives to promote small employer wellness programs can benefit from examining the influence of brokers on the decision-making process. When engaged and supported with resources, brokers may be effective champions for employer wellness programs.",

keywords = "health communications, interventions, workplace wellness",

author = "Michele Thornton and Kristen Hammerback and Abraham, {Jean M.} and Lisa Brosseau and Harris, {Jeffrey R.} and Linnan, {Laura A.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Illinois Prevention Research Center Supporting Policy and Environmental Change. We thank Ashley Phillips for her work on this project. We also extend our appreciation to the brokers and NAHU chapters that participated in this study. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention / NIOSH [Grant/Contract No: U48 DP005010-01S1(SIP14-031)]. Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Illinois Prevention Research Center Supporting Policy and Environmental Change. We thank Ashley Phillips for her work on this project. We also extend our appreciation to the brokers and NAHU chapters that participated in this study. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2020.",

year = "2020",

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doi = "10.1177/0890117120957159",

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AU - Hammerback, Kristen

AU - Abraham, Jean M.

AU - Brosseau, Lisa

AU - Harris, Jeffrey R.

AU - Linnan, Laura A.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Illinois Prevention Research Center Supporting Policy and Environmental Change. We thank Ashley Phillips for her work on this project. We also extend our appreciation to the brokers and NAHU chapters that participated in this study. The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention / NIOSH [Grant/Contract No: U48 DP005010-01S1(SIP14-031)]. Funding Information: The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Illinois Prevention Research Center Supporting Policy and Environmental Change. We thank Ashley Phillips for her work on this project. We also extend our appreciation to the brokers and NAHU chapters that participated in this study. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2020.

PY - 2020/9/11

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N2 - Purpose: Small employers, while motivated to implement wellness programs, often lack knowledge and resources to do so. As a result, these firms rely on external decision-making support from insurance brokers. The objective of this study was to analyze brokers’ familiarity with wellness programs and to characterize their role and interactions with small employers. Design: Using a newly developed common interview guide (20 questions), protocol and analysis plan, 20 interviews were conducted with health insurance brokers in Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina and Washington in 2016 and 2017. In addition to exploring patterns of broker interactions and familiarity by segment, we propose a framework to conceptualize the broker-client relationship using social capital theory and the RE-AIM model. Methods: Interviews were transcribed, summarized and a common codebook was established using DeDoose. Themes were identified following multi-rater coding and structured within the framework. Results: Participating brokers reported having a high to moderate familiarity with wellness programs (65%) and a majority (80%) indicated that they have previously advised their small business clients on the availability and features of them. Further, we find that brokers may help eliminate barriers to resources and act as a connector to wellness opportunities within their professional network. Conclusion: New initiatives to promote small employer wellness programs can benefit from examining the influence of brokers on the decision-making process. When engaged and supported with resources, brokers may be effective champions for employer wellness programs.

AB - Purpose: Small employers, while motivated to implement wellness programs, often lack knowledge and resources to do so. As a result, these firms rely on external decision-making support from insurance brokers. The objective of this study was to analyze brokers’ familiarity with wellness programs and to characterize their role and interactions with small employers. Design: Using a newly developed common interview guide (20 questions), protocol and analysis plan, 20 interviews were conducted with health insurance brokers in Illinois, Minnesota, North Carolina and Washington in 2016 and 2017. In addition to exploring patterns of broker interactions and familiarity by segment, we propose a framework to conceptualize the broker-client relationship using social capital theory and the RE-AIM model. Methods: Interviews were transcribed, summarized and a common codebook was established using DeDoose. Themes were identified following multi-rater coding and structured within the framework. Results: Participating brokers reported having a high to moderate familiarity with wellness programs (65%) and a majority (80%) indicated that they have previously advised their small business clients on the availability and features of them. Further, we find that brokers may help eliminate barriers to resources and act as a connector to wellness opportunities within their professional network. Conclusion: New initiatives to promote small employer wellness programs can benefit from examining the influence of brokers on the decision-making process. When engaged and supported with resources, brokers may be effective champions for employer wellness programs.

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Using a Social Capital Framework to Explore a Broker’s Role in Small Employer Wellness Program Uptake and Implementation

Abstract

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