ExpertsGlobal5
Over the last several decades, an epidemic of lifestyle diseases has developed in the United States. Unhealthy lifestyles, such as inactivity, poor nutrition, tobacco use, and frequent alcohol consumption, are driving up the prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and chronic pulmonary conditions. These chronic conditions have become a major burden as they lead to decreased quality of life, premature death and disability, and increased healthcare cost. Furthermore, although chronic disease was once thought to be a problem of older age groups, there is a shift toward onset during Americans’ working age.
Illness-related loss of productivity due to absence from work and reduced performance while at work adds to the economic burden. Out of concern about the impact of chronic disease on employee health and well-being, the cost of health care coverage, and productivity, employers are adopting health promotion and disease prevention strategies, commonly referred to as workplace wellness programs. Health promotion aims to foster better health through behavior change. Disease prevention programs aim either to prevent the onset of diseases (primary prevention) or to diagnose and treat disease at an early stage before complications occur (secondary prevention). Primary prevention addresses health-related risk factors – for example, by encouraging a diet with lower fat and caloric content to prevent the onset of diabetes. Secondary prevention attempts to improve disease control – for example, by promoting medication adherence for patients with asthma to avoid symptom exacerbations that can lead to hospitalization. A broad range of benefits are offered under the label “workplace wellness,” from multi-component programs to single interventions, and benefits can be offered by employers directly, through a healthcare vendor, group health plans, or a combination of both. Workplace wellness takes advantage of employers’ access to employees at an age when interventions can still change their long-term health trajectory. The United States federal government’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act supports this trend with several provisions regarding health promotion.
1. Which of the following can be regarded as the success of a secondary prevention program at an organization?
A. It utilized some provisions from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
B. It was praised by employees for promoting better health through behavior change in them.
C. It successfully identified risk factors related to diabetes of a few employees.
D. It helped a few employees control the early symptoms of a pulmonary condition.
E. It increased average employee tenure at the organization by addressing health issues.
2. The passage suggests that, over the last few decades, chronic disease is
A. causing unhealthy lifestyles in Americans
B. becoming one of the biggest health issues in current times
C. becoming more painful for patients than before
D. affecting fewer individuals in old age groups than it did before
E. affecting more number of younger Americans than before
3. Which of the following best describes the function of the mention of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the end of the passage?
A. It explains the prevalence of workplace programs.
B. It indicates the legal position on workplace programs.
C. It shows an example of a broader wellness orientation.
D. It clarifies why workplace programs are necessary.
E. It highlights the recognition workplace programs have received.
4. Which of the following statements about wellness programs is least supported by the passage?
A. Large employers are likely to have complex wellness programs.
B. Smoking cessation and weight watchers group meetings are examples of wellness programs.
C. Wellness programs offer a wide variety of benefits and come in various formats.
D. Employers can outsource wellness programs to specialized healthcare organizations.
E. Wellness programs serve to reduce the costs incurred by employers.
Mind-map
To suggest that unhealthy lifestyles are increasing prevalence of chronic diseases (Paragraph 1)
To mention how workplace wellness programs seek to address the risks to employees’ health (Paragraph 2)
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1. Which of the following can be regarded as the success of a secondary prevention program at an organization?a. It utilized some provisions from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.b. It was praised by employees for promoting better health through behavior change in them.c. It successfully identified risk factors related to diabetes of a few employees.d. It helped a few employees control the early symptoms of a pulmonary condition.e. It increased average employee tenure at the organization by addressing health issues.Question Type: InferenceD is the best choice.Video explanation:
2. The passage suggests that, over the last few decades, chronic disease is
a. causing unhealthy lifestyles in Americansb. becoming one of the biggest health issues in current timesc. becoming more painful for patients than befored. affecting fewer individuals in old age groups than it did beforee. affecting more number of younger Americans than beforeQuestion Type: FactE is the best choice.Video explanation:
3. Which of the following best describes the function of the mention of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the end of the passage?
a. It explains the prevalence of workplace programs.b. It indicates the legal position on workplace programs. c. It shows an example of a broader wellness orientation.d. It clarifies why workplace programs are necessary.e. It highlights the recognition workplace programs have received.Question Type: StructureC is the best choice.Video explanation:
4. Which of the following statements about wellness programs is least supported by the passage?
a. Large employers are likely to have complex wellness programs.b. Smoking cessation and weight watchers group meetings are examples of wellness programs.c. Wellness programs offer a wide variety of benefits and come in various formats.d. Employers can outsource wellness programs to specialized healthcare organizations.e. Wellness programs serve to reduce the costs incurred by employers.Question Type: FactA is the best choice.