Healthways (HWAY) and Gallup recently announced the results of the Gallup-Healthways Monthly U.S. Well-Being Report for March 2011. The component indices for the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index (“WBI”) were, on the whole, level with the sequentially prior month. In addition, the overarching Well-Being Index composite measure remained low at 66.3.
Among the components of the WBI, the Work Environment Index (“WEI”) gained a miniscule point from the all-time low of 45.4 recorded in February 2011. It is noteworthy that the WEI has steadily retreated during the course of this recession.
A 100-basis point improvement in opportunities for staff to demonstrate skills at the office yielded a minor improvement over the previous month’s overall WEI score.
As for other WBI components, the Physical Health Index stood at 75.8 in the reported month matching the record low attained in February 2009. Obesity scores continued to languish at about 26.7%, level for two years in a row. There was an improvement in the proportion of Americans facing health problems, which declined over 100 basis points, to a near record low of 77.1%.
The Basic Access Index (“BAI”) remained mired at a low of 82.2. It stood at 83 in December 2008. The recession led to four or five million Americans to forgo annual dental care. In fact, only 64.7% Americans faced a dentist in the preceding 12 months. A growing number of Americans found it difficult to buy fresh vegetables and fruits in March.
With 53.9% Americans saying that they were thriving and 3.7% stating that they were suffering, the Life Evaluation Index managed to surpass 50 for the third month in a row. Among other indices, the Emotional Health Index fell below 79 only for the second time in the preceding 15 months.
The Healthy Behavior Index moved up, as per forecast, to 63.7. Historical data indicates that this measure moves up in March each year and reaches its zenith in summer.
Healthways is a prominent vendor of specialized and composite solutions, enabling recipients to maintain or improve their well being and, consequently, reduce systemic healthcare costs. The company’s solutions are intended to keep people healthy and mitigate lifestyle risk factors that can cause disease and optimize care for those with chronic illness. Healthways competes with Express Scripts (ESRX) among others.
Gallup is known for providing timely and pertinent research on opinion. The company employs scientists in disciplines such as economics, sociology, management and psychology. Its consultants identify and monitor behavioral economic indicators on a worldwide basis, thereby enabling companies to increase organic growth.
The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index is an original and large survey, which conducts 1,000 calls each and every day. It is the official measure for well being in the U.S. providing a daily gauge of individuals’ well being at the end of each day based on the World Health Organization (“WHO”) definition of health being not only the absence of disease and infirmity but also a state of mental, physical and social well-being.
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