Abstract
Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are serious health issues in many countries. This paper aimed to evaluate a wellness center or health promotion program using the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework and to investigate financial feasibility of NCDs prevention and promotion program in Thailand. Methodology: A retrospective plus interview study was used in this paper. Data were obtained from two wellness centers in public hospitals, Thailand. RE-AIM model was used to evaluate the program. Financial feasibility was performed with the home exercise and fitness center models based on financial and service assumptions. Results: A total of 217 participants were included in this study. After attending the prevention and promotion program for more than two months, the participants’ body weights and body mass indexes reduced significantly. Regarding the RE-AIM framework, the wellness centers reached target groups and continued providing services in the public hospitals. In terms of a financial feasibility study, the model could break-even in the first year (0.36 year for home exercise, while a fitness center model was 5.44 years with a fee of 4,500 THB per person). For the internal rate of return (IRR), both models showed positive investment. Discussion: RE-AIM model indicated that the wellness centers successfully reached its target groups. The findings provided a positive outcome and positive investment by financial feasibility study despite small sample size. Further studies are recommended to involve more hospitals to improve the generalizability of our findings.
