Opportunities and Challenges of Using Mobile Applications for Workplace Health Promotion

Workplace health promotion (WHP) needs be adjusted to the new ways of working and improved in terms of participation rates. As mobile applications (apps) have proved to be effective in various health areas, it might also be a solution for WHP. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the requirements employees would have on such an app for WHP. Therefore, 29 semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees and experts of an IT company. Most employees were rather positive about such an app. Concerns were stated in terms of added value and data security. Variations were found in preferred functionalities. Apps might thus be effective for WHP but would need to add value compared to apps available for private usage. Additionally, clear communication about data privacy would be expected.

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Views of the workplace as a health promotion arena among managers of small companies

Health Education Journal ◽

10.1177/0017896916643355 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 75 (8) ◽

pp. 950-960 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Virginia Wiman ◽

Marie Lydell ◽

Maria Nyholm

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Health And Safety ◽

External Support ◽

Occupational Health Services ◽

Small Companies ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Latent Content

Introduction: Several studies have shown that workplace health promotion leads to better health, increased productivity, as well as reduced absenteeism and presenteeism among employees. The objective of this study was to describe how managers in small companies (10–19 employees) perceive their company as an arena for promoting employees’ health. Method: A sample of 10 managers (four women) was strategically selected. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each person. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The analysis focused on both manifest and latent content. Results: Three main categories emerged from the analysis: the potential to promote employees’ health, responsibility as an employer and the need for external support. An arena for workplace health promotion is created when managers prioritise health at the workplace. Conclusion: Small companies often lack the knowledge and resources to manage health and safety problems and also have less access to occupational health services. This paper highlights the importance of the views of small company managers as resources for the development of health promotion.

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Workplace health promotion interventions for Australian workers with intellectual disability

Health Promotion International ◽

10.1093/heapro/daaa129 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (2) ◽

pp. 321-333

Author(s):

Hannah Meacham ◽

Jillian Cavanagh ◽

Timothy Bartram ◽

Patricia Pariona-Cabrera ◽

Amie Shaw

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Workplace Health Promotion ◽

Management Support ◽

Workplace Health ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Social Scientists ◽

Health Empowerment ◽

Development Goals ◽

Film Making

Summary Workplace health promotion (WHP) and the general wellbeing of workers in the Australian workforce should be a priority for all management. Our study argues that management support for workers with an intellectual disability (WWID) can make a difference to their health promotion and ultimately their participation in the workforce. We adopt a qualitative approach, through semi-structured interviews with 22 managers, across various organizations, to examine their perspectives around the WHP of WWID. We integrate the key values of WHP; rights for health, empowerment for health and participation for health (Spencer, Corbin and Miedema, Sustainable development goals for health promotion: a critical frame analysis, Health Promot Int 2019;34:847–58) into the four phases of WHP interventions; needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation (Bortz and Döring, Research Methods and Evaluation for Human and Social Scientists, Heidelberg: Springer, 2006) and examine management perspectives (setting-based approach) on WHP of WWID. Where this integration had taken place, we found some evidence of managers adopting more flexible, innovative and creative approaches to supporting the health promotion of WWID. This integration seemed to drive continuous improvement for WWID health promotion at the workplace. We also found evidence that some organizations, such an exemplar film company, even over deliver in terms of supporting WWID needs by encouraging their capabilities in film making interventions, whilst others are more direct in their support by matching skills to routine jobs. Our approach demonstrates that incorporating key WHP values into the four-phase WHP framework is critical for the effective health promotion of WWID.

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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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