Workplace health promotion and utilization of health services

Background: The influence of the working environment on the back health of employees is well-documented. Many companies have begun to offer employees access to services to promote back health. Factors affecting the use of these offers at the population level have received little investigation to date. The current study examined the socio-demographic factors, physical activity and health-related factors, and work-related factors associated with the use of offers of workplace health promotion for back health in Germany.Materials and Methods: In the representative population-based cross-sectional survey “German Health Update” (GEDA 2014/2015-EHIS) conducted by the Robert Koch Institute, 12,072 employees aged 18–64 years old were surveyed from November 2014 to July 2015 regarding the use of back health services in their companies. In addition to socio-demographic factors, the survey examined working hours, physical activity in leisure time, health awareness, and subjective complaints in the lower back or other chronic back problems in the last 12 months. The interaction of these factors with the utilization of back health services was tested using multiple logistic regression models.Results: Women used back health services more often than men (women: 25.5%; men: 18.1%). Female gender was associated with part-time employment (OR 0.72) and a strong to very strong level of health awareness (OR 1.40). Male gender was associated with age between 30 and 44 years (OR 1.99) and 45–64 years (OR 2.02), low socioeconomic status (OR 0.48), endurance activity of <2.5 h per week (OR 0.62), and absence of lower back pain or other chronic back conditions for the last 12 months (OR 0.48).Conclusion: The present study is the first to provide findings regarding the factors associated with the utilization of workplace health promotion to promote back health at the population level, and from the perspective of employees in Germany. The results revealed that the relevant factors for participating in offers differ for women and men. To reach more employees, workplace health promotion offers for back health should be designed specifically for each individual, considering gender and age, working hours, health awareness and behavior, and health state.

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Effective Workplace Health Promotion in the Network Society: the Role of Communication

SOCIOLOGIA DEL LAVORO ◽

10.3280/sl2018-150012 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 218-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gea Ducci ◽

Lella Mazzoli

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Network Society ◽

Workplace Health

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Truckies and the Australian transport industry: Managers’ perspectives about enablers and inhibitors to workplace health promotion

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-203365 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Marguerite C. Sendall ◽

Alison Brodie ◽

Laura K. McCosker ◽

Phil Crane ◽

Marylou Fleming ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Action Research ◽

Participatory Action Research ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Road Transport ◽

Successful Implementation ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Transport Industry ◽

Health Promotion Interventions

BACKGROUND: There is little published research about managers’ views on implementing and embedding workplace health promotion interventions. OBJECTIVE: To shed light on research-to-practice challenges in implementing workplace health promotion interventions in the Australian road transport industry. METHODS: In this Participatory Action Research project, managers from small-to-midsized companies in the Australian road transport industry were asked their views about enablers and barriers to implementing nutrition and physical activity interventions in their workplace. RESULTS: Managers identified practical assistance with resources, ideas, and staffing as being key enablers to implementation. Barriers included time restraints, worker age and lack of interest, and workplace issues relating to costs and resources. CONCLUSION: Manager perspectives add new insights about successful implementation of workplace health promotion. A Participatory Action Research approach allows managers to develop their own ideas for adapting interventions to suit their workplace. These findings add to a small body of knowledge of managers’ views about implementing workplace health promotion in small-to-midsized road transport companies - a relatively unexplored group. Managers highlight the importance of time constraints and worker availability when designing interventions for the road transport industry. Managers require a good understanding of the workplaces’ socio-cultural context for successful health promotion and health behaviour change.

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Workplace Health in Kentucky: A Statewide Comparison

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105473 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5473

Author(s):

Gretchen Macy ◽

Jacqueline Basham ◽

Cecilia Watkins ◽

Vijay Golla

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Occupational Safety ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Occupational Safety And Health ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Positive Direction ◽

Research Software ◽

Safety And Health ◽

Statewide Assessment

The objectives of this study were to assess the state of Kentucky’s workplace health promotion and occupational safety and health programs, to ensure the ability to comprehend any possible trends over the past six years in the state’s progress in offering workplace health promotion and health protection programs, to compare the results of this survey with the 2013 Kentucky state-wide assessment, and to identify gaps in Kentucky’s workplace health promotion and occupational safety and health based on Total Worker Health® (TWH) concepts. Using Qualtrics research software, the Workplace Health in America assessment was sent to companies located in Kentucky and having 10 or more employees. Participants were identified using Dun and Bradstreet’s Hoover’s database. The results showed that, as with the 2013 survey, larger workplaces significantly were more likely to offer workplace health promotion programs than smaller companies (X2 = 24.30; p < 0.001). However, more companies (78%) reported offering programs compared to the 2013 assessment (49%). Given the results of the current study as compared to the statewide assessment conducted in 2013, Kentucky’s WHP is moving in a positive direction; yet, there is still much to be done. There remains a strong need to provide cost-effective and accessible resources for all elements of TWH to small workplaces.

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Identifying Health and Safety Risks for Childcare Workers

AAOHN Journal ◽

10.1177/216507990705500804 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 55 (8) ◽

pp. 321-325 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Belinda J. McGrath

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Occupational Health ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Safety Issues ◽

Safety Risks ◽

Health Promotion Programs ◽

Childcare Workers ◽

Health And Safety Risks

Childcare workers are exposed to several health and safety risks in their work environment, the most common being infectious diseases, musculoskeletal injuries, accidents, and occupational stress. Pregnant childcare workers have an additional risk of potential harm to the fetus. Occupational health nurses can work collaboratively with childcare workers to reduce these risks and provide workplace health promotion programs. This article explores the occupational health and safety issues for childcare workers and suggests health promotion strategies that could be implemented by occupational health nurses working in this arena.

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