Language
Country/Area
No result found
Why does everyone need a health risk assessment? Discover the science behind it!
In today's society, health risk assessment (HRA) has become an important tool to enhance people's health awareness. This tool is not just a series of questions, but a systematic assessment method that collects an individual's medical history, demographic characteristics and lifestyle through a questionnaire to assess their health status and potential health risks.
Health risk assessment is a health questionnaire that evaluates personal health risks and quality of life.
Definition of health risk assessment
A health risk assessment (HRA) will typically include three key elements: an extended questionnaire, a risk calculation or score, and some form of feedback, which may be a face-to-face conversation with a health advisor or through an automated online report . The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines health risk assessment as: “A systematic approach to gathering information about an individual, identifying risk factors, providing personalized feedback, and linking the individual to at least one health-promoting intervention. ”
Different health risk assessments are available for adults and children, and some assessments are specific to specific groups. For example, Medicare in the United States (HRA) asks about a senior's ability to carry out daily activities, while Medicaid asks about access to health care, food accessibility, and living conditions.
The main goal is to assess health status, estimate the level of health risks, and provide feedback to promote behavioral changes and reduce health risks.
History of health risk assessment
The original concept of health risk assessment can be traced back to the ten-year life prediction study conducted by the Assistant Surgeon General of the United States based on lifestyle and predisposing conditions. The study, led by Dr. Lewis C. Robbins of the Public Health Service, is based on an in-depth longitudinal study of 5,000 families in Framingham, Massachusetts, and is ongoing with funding from the National Institutes of Health.
With the publication of "How to Practice Prospective Medicine" in 1970, the concepts of health risk assessment questionnaires and risk calculations were gradually promoted in medical practice. After entering the 1980s, the CDC released a public version of the HRA, which became widely used, especially in the workplace.
Use of health risk assessment
When a person completes a health risk assessment, they typically receive a detailed report that lists their health score, or points, and provides recommendations for reducing health risks. In addition to individual feedback, HRA is used to provide aggregated data reports to businesses and organizations. These reports include participant demographic data, highlight areas of health risk, and often include analysis of cost projections and insurance premium savings.
Health risk assessment can effectively identify health risk factors, predict health-related costs, and evaluate the effectiveness and return on investment of health promotion strategies.
How health risk assessments are delivered
As technology advances, the way HRA is delivered has also changed. Initially conducted in the form of paper self-scoring questionnaires, most are now implemented online. These online HRAs offer many advantages, including greater targeting, improved data management, reduced administrative costs, and instant feedback, making them more effective health promotion tools.
Effectiveness of health risk assessment
Not only that, research shows that simply participating in HRA can also have a positive impact on health behavior changes and health status. However, HRAs are often more effective within comprehensive, multi-component health promotion programs, where specific health interventions and behavior change programs can be targeted at specific risks.
Limitations of health risk assessment
Although health risk assessment has many advantages, its limitations cannot be ignored. HRAs emphasize health risks but do not diagnose disease and therefore should not replace consultation with a medical or health practitioner.
Summary
There are currently more than 50 different versions of health risk assessment tools on the market, with major vendors generally holding National Council for Quality Assurance (NCQA) health and promotion certification. Faced with such a common health risk assessment, and considering changes in personal health status, have you begun to pay attention to your own health risk assessment?
