106. DWTDH APRIL 2009
John Miller conducted a Health Management program for The Group in April 2009.
35 people, 23 men and 12 women completed the following profiles: -
■ Health, Fitness and Wellbeing
■ Musculo-skeletal risk
■ Career satisfaction
The results are presented in graphic format, with commentary.
Click here to read what the assessments are all about
HEALTH, FITNESS AND WELLBEING PROFILE
The Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile provides people with a very good idea of how well the various systems of the body are functioning, particularly the
the mind
autonomic nervous system
immune system
digestive system
circulatory system
elimination system
musculo-skeletal system.
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Symptom |
None |
Not much |
A fair bit |
A lot |
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1. |
Headaches including migraines |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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2. |
Lack of energy and vitality |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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3. |
Candida - jock itch, thrush, tinea ... |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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4. |
Poor sleep. If on tablets score 10 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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5. |
Snoring &/or sleep apnoea. Score 10 if using a mask |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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6. |
Crook back, stiff neck, sore shoulders, dicky knee RSI ... |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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7. |
Frequent colds, flu, sinus |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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8. |
Unsettled stomach, reflux (Score 10 if on medication) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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9. |
Overweight - 1 point for every 2Kg |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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10. |
Irritable bowel, constipation |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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11. |
Asthma |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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12. |
Low level of aerobic fitness |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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13. |
Chest pain, palpitations |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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14. |
Rashes, itchiness, skin outbreaks, psoriasis ... |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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15. |
Mouth ulcers, cold sores |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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16. |
Elevated blood pressure. Score 0 on pills |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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17. |
Elevated blood cholesterol. Score o if on pills |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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18. |
Elevated blood glucose. Score 0 if on medication |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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19. |
Shakes, nervous ticks, mannerisms |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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20. |
Grinding teeth |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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21. |
Alcoholic drinks per day (2 pts/drink) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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22. |
Smoking. (1 pt/cigarette/day) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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23. |
Caffeine (1 pt/cup per day) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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24. |
Anxious about life, insecure, apprehensive |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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25. |
Sad or depressed (On medication, score 0) |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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26. |
In wrong job for now |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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27. |
Under-appreciated at work |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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28. |
Have poor work/life balance |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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29. |
Unhappy with family life |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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30. |
Unhappy with financial status |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
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Score |
The score of a normal, fit and healthy human being is less than 20
Higher scores are symptomatic of dysfunction of one or more body systems.
People with high levels of stress usually score well over 100.
For people with a score of more than 80, the background noise of their life is becoming louder and louder. It is hard to concentrate on your work when body systems are dysfunctional.
We know a fit and healthy group when we see the majority of scores below 40. This was not the case with this group. By and large higher scores are usually a reflection of
low levels of fitness
an inability to deal with what life and work are serving up to people.
Remember, it is not what happens, but how we deal with what happens that determines our level of stress.
Classification of average scores: Excellent - less than 40. Good - 41 - 50. Fair 51-60. Poor - over 60.
This profile is described as fair. The average score was 55, skewed somewhat by the 3 scores over 100, but nevertheless a good overall result. These people, by and large were not in bad shape. We saw a loot of good health. Anyone scoring more than 80 is putting up with a lot of 'background noise'.
What surprised us about this score is the higher than normal number of people scoring less than 20 on the profile. In that respect it's a good result.
HEALTH CLIMATE SURVEY
Based on scores received in the Health, Fitness and Wellbeing profile we've compiled a Health Climate Survey. Scores on each item have ranked - the higher the score the worse the problem. We added the scores for each item. The results appear in the table below.
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Symptoms/ issues / concerns |
% of people scoring over 5 |
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Overweight |
43 | ||
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Crook back, sore shoulders |
34 | ||
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Financial status |
29 | ||
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Poor sleep |
26 | ||
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Low level of fitness |
23 | ||
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Under appreciated at work |
23 | ||
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Lack of Energy |
20 | ||
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Reflux, unsettled stomach |
20 | ||
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Wrong job |
20 | ||
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Headaches |
14 | ||
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Itchy, rashes, psoriasis |
14 | ||
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Work-life balance |
14 | ||
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Unhappy family life |
14 | ||
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Snoring, sleep apnoea |
11 | ||
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Anxious |
11 | ||
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Frequent colds, flu, sinus |
9 | ||
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Elevated blood pressure |
9 | 3 | |
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Grinding teeth |
9 | ||
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Alcohol |
9 | ||
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Depressed |
9 | 2 | |
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Irritable bowel, constipation etc |
6 | ||
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Shortness of breath from asthma |
6 | ||
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Chest pain, palpitations |
6 | ||
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Shakes, nevous mannerisms |
6 | ||
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Caffeine |
6 | ||
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Furry tongue, thrush, tinea, |
3 | ||
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Mouth ulcers |
3 | ||
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Elevated cholesterol |
3 | ||
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Elevated glucose |
3 | ||
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Smoking |
0 |
We registered those scores of 5 and over as being a symptom, issue or concern, the most pressing of which have been highlighted.
Perception
Based on people's perception (where they gave a particular symptom a score of 5 or more, and backed up by objective scores) the key issues are
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no-one indicated they had a higher than normal alcohol intake. |
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Nobody smoked. This is a great result. |
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Obesity 43% of people said they were more than 10Kg over weight. 3 people were 20Kg overweight. |
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Lack of energy 20% of people said they lacked energy.
Low levels of energy come from many sources, including: - - lack of a good aerobic fitness training program - a diet high in wheat flour and sugar - dullness - ... |
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Fitness 23% said they were unfit.
Fitness has a significant bearing on the scores for low levels of energy, poor sleep, snoring, depression and headaches. |
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Musculo-skeletal dysfunction 34% said they had some sort of musculo-skeletal dysfunction.
Musculo-skeletal dysfunction goes with low levels of strength and flexibility. Those at greatest risk need encouragement to attend a strength and flexibility training program several times a week. |
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Under-appreciation at work 23% said they were under-appreciated at work.
This is comparatively low score when compared with other groups. |
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Being in the wrong job 20% said they were in the wrong job.
There is usually a high and positive correlation between people being in the wrong job and people saying they are under-appreciated at work. |
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Depression and anxiety There is an epidemic of depression in our community and we encourage all organisations to target depression. 3 people gave themselves a score of 5 or more on the depression question, indicating risk that needs to be dealt with.
2 people were on anti-depressant medication.
There is a significant core of depression that relates to poor health generally.
All body systems are connected. The epidemic of depression will continue to escalate at the same rate as the epidemic of all other body system dysfunctions. People need to be given encouragement to exercise regularly and vigorous, eat less flour and sugar and imbibe less of the culturally chemicals - particularly nicotine, caffeine and alcohol.
Because of the relationship of depression to fitness and diet there is a chance that some people have been misdiagnosed.
Some aspects of depression relate to psychologically generated issues. It is important that these people be encouraged to have regular counselling - through the EAP or other counsellors -
The best book about depression I've read, and what you can do about it, and one that I recommend highly is by psychiatrist, David Servan-Schreiber, Healing Without Freud or Prozac. |
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Blood pressure 3 indicated their blood pressure was elevated and that they were on medication.
Blood pressure is a symptom of body system dysfunction relating directly to
- lack of aerobic fitness - being over weight - being stressed. |
STRESS RISK PROFILE
Participants completed a simple stress and relaxation profile designed to assist them in making an assessment of how they were affected by stress. It is based on the habits of unstressed people.
If you do what unstressed people do you are less at risk of becoming stressed. Im yet to see someone who said they were highly stressed or depressed who got a high score on this profile. A good score is over 70.
How would you rate your current stress level
Do you get a good nights sleep?
Do you take your holidays?
Are you keeping yourself fit and healthy?
Is there balance in your life?
Do you take time off at lunch time?
How many hours a week do you work?
Are you good at giving back to your Self?
Do you meditate?
Are you happy with your family (and romantic) life?
The matter of stress always needs to be addressed by organisations as part of a personal development thrust, and aimed at all staff. If stress management type programs are to be conducted, all staff need to be involved, otherwise those at most risk and those who are currently most stressed (and too wrapped up in their own busyness) will not attend.
For those who spend long hours at work, I often wonder whether the behaviour is externally or internally driven. I suspect the latter. No body on their death bed ever said 'I wish I'd spent more time at the office.'
A few people are struggling with their family life. This is another fertile area for personal development and counseling programs. It's hard to concentrate at work when your home life is in turmoil
SCORING GUIDELINES
Excellent, scoring 8 or more
Good, scoring 7 or more
Fair, scoring 5 or 6
Poor, scoring less than 5
Pass mark on all parameters 7/10.
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With a few exceptions, this is a good result. |
With a few exception this is a good result. The first casualty of anxiety and low levels of fitness is sleep. | ||
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A poor result. Paul Pearsal in his book Superimmunity' said you need a 21 day away from home holiday every year. |
A fair result. Some people are not keeping themselves in the shape they'd like to be in - and which they need to be in. |
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With some exceptions this is a reasonable result. |
A patchy result. Too many people don't take time off to switch off and get outside in the fresh air. This is a reflection of poor management - personal and organisational |
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This is a reasonable result. No one on their death bed ever said 'I wish I'd spent more time at the office.' The people working the longest hours are women with young children who have a shift before work, a shift at work, a shift after work and the graveyard shift as well. |
Too many people are too busy to look after and nurture their Self. |
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Very few people meditate. The reasons to do so are compelling. |
Family life satisfaction is good for most people, but not for some. The tail suggests the organisation could encourage staff with family problems to go to the employee assistance program for advice and support. |
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Average score: 60. This is indeed an average sort of a score. People could do more to look after their Self. I recommend that people scoring less that 50 spend time with a counselor or life coach, or go to a personal development weekend to get themselves centred and grounded on looking after their Self - and, in effect, start doing the things unstressed people do to avoid becoming stressed. |
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CAREER SATISFACTION PROFILE
The parameters in the profile relate to a mix of factors influences by the participant, management and their colleagues.
How close are you to doing the job youd really like to be doing?
Are you in the right job for now?
Is work giving you life or sucking life out of you?
Are you focused on your career options?
Do you get good feedback from your manager?
Do you receive an appropriate financial reward?
Do you feel you and your work are valued and appreciated?
Do you work for an organisation that cares about people?
Do you enjoy the company of the people you work with?
Whats the level of morale like in your work group?
Normally, when results on the overall career profile are less than 70/100, people agree that theyre not in the right job. Certainly those scoring less than 60 have sufficient issues relating to career management as to seriously consider going somewhere else.
SCORING GUIDELINES
Excellent, scoring 8 or more
Good, scoring 7 or more
Fair, scoring 5 or 6
Poor, scoring less than 5
Pass mark on all parameters 7/10.
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This is a poor score - 9 people didn't know what they wanted to do when they grew up! My encouragement to people who scored less than 6 is to move heaven and earth to work out what it is they really want to do - and develop a plan to get there as soon as they can. |
With a few exceptions this is a good result. |
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With few exceptions this a good result, Work is probably about as stressful as you want it to be. Walk away. Make appointments for your Self that allow you to get on with your work unhindered by interruptions. |
A fair result. For those who scored 7/10 it didn't matter. They are doing what they want to do. |
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This can only be described as a fair result. But there is definitely work to be done to get all scores about 70. |
With a few exceptions, these people are rsatisfied with what they sell themselves for. If you're not happy, you're selling yourself short. Log onto Seek and get your suit dry cleaned! |
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This is a patchy result. Too many people do not feel that they are valued and appreciated. |
With a few exceptions this is a good result. The aim is to have all staff recording a score of 7 or more. |
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This is a very good result. |
With some reservation this is a pretty good morale score. It's generally the case that our morale is good when my morale is good. The exceptions need to be dealt with. |
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Average score: 66. Compared with other groups, this is a fair result. When the average score is more that 70 we know we have a tightly knit workforce. For people who score less than 70, there is the whiff of a suggestion they're not in the right job. The situation is certainly redeemable. For people scoring less than 60 the smell is becoming distinctly stronger and below 50 it is very strong. Being in the wrong job sucks all vitality out of you.
For those who are in the wrong job there are several options; change your manager, change yourself or change your job. |
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The Buddha and Confucius both said 'Find the job you'd love to do and you don't have to do another days work in your life.'
RECOMMENDATIONS
See the generic list of recommendations that cover all our profiles.