an integrated approach to workplace health promotion

8/2/2019 An Integrated Approach to Workplace Health Promotion

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BY CORDIA CHU

An Integrated Approach to

Workplace Health Promotion


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Session Objectives

At the end of the report, we will be able to discuss anintegrated approach to workplace health promotion.Specifically:

1. Review the basic framework of Workplace HealthPromotion (WHP);

2. Explain the relationships between WHP and

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

3. Describe the future of WHP in research


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Concept Terms

-People-Environment


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Concept Terms

Health Promotion

-The process of enablingpeople to increase

control over, and toimprove their health

-Ottawa Charter


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Concept Terms

Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) Refers to the educational, organizational or economic

activities in the workplace that are designed to improvethe health of workers and therefore the community atlarge.

This involves workers and management participation ona voluntary basis in the implementation of jointly agreedprograms which utilize the workplace as a setting for

promoting better health.-NSCHPWP, 1989


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Rationale for WHP

The workplace provides a favorable framework forhealth promotion.

It is designed to reduce inequality in health.

It promotes a healthy workforce which is great forbusiness.

- Good health is good business

Integral part of the Corporate Culture


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Rationale for WHP

The workplace has been shown as a highly effective place toimplement health promotion programs, achieving not onlyhigh participation and adherence rates but also significantbenefits for both employers and employees. The benefits of

promoting health flow on, not only to workers and theirfamilies, but to businesses and the community at large interms of better health and reduced costs. The long termbenefits to Australian society as a whole will include

reduced distress from illness and disease, reduceddemands on public health systems, plus greater workforce

participation andimproved quality of life

-Ken Hayward, Queensland Minister for Health


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WHP Strategies

The use of interrelated implementation approaches

- Lower level

- Medium level

- Higher levelMANAGEMENT


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WHP Strategies

Involvement of workers in the planning andimplementation Build community support

Assess work-site culture and social norms

Solicit top management and union support

Use employee input in planning

Provide ongoing programming with environmental and socialsupports

Conduct periodic program evaluation

-Sorensen, Glasgow and Corbett Model


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WHP Strategies

Key Stages in the development of WHP Programs


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WHP Strategies

Program Stages

1. Determination of needs

2. Setting of the goals and objectives

3. The use of community resources4. Determination of strategy to use


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WHP Strategies

Evaluation Process

A continuous, systematicprocess of observing,recording and objectively judging the process and

results of a program. Not an end in itself, but rathera means to an end, it should be an integral partofany health promotion activity from its initial

planning stages to the program finish.

- NSCHPWP


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Evaluation not only involves assessment ofoverallhealth outcomes, but also changes in the workplaceenvironment and culture, effectiveness of overallhealth promotion strategies and program specificachievements methodology

Knowledge and skills in: Expert knowledge in the workplace

Sound evaluation

Health promotion theories and techniques


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Some problems in WHP evaluation

Are the benefits worth the cost? At what cost is thebenefit achieved? Benefits may not be immediate, tangible or measurable

Participation rates may be deceptive

Severe methodological flaws in cost-effectiveness orcost-benefit assessment


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WHP strategies

WHP Evaluation Stages

1. Establishing baseline data

- Demographic, Environment, Industry-

specific health problems/risk factors,Organizational features, Literaturereview/data collection

2. Process evaluation

- appropriateness, quality and timelinessof methods


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WHP strategies

WHP Evaluation Stages3. Impact evaluation

-Focus on specific program activities,identification of extent of changes to

relevant awareness, knowledge, attitudes,beliefs, skills, behavioral intentions andactual participants behaviors

4. Outcome evaluation- Examination of the long-term effects ofthe overall WHP program (goalattainment)


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WHP and OHS

Concern about boundaries of WHP and OHS Threat that WHP will subsume OHP

Fear that important gains in OHS will be undermined

Danger that WHP will substitute/eliminate safety issues

Basic difference is the legal framework

Delineation is difficult especially in workers chronic

illness


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Future Directions of WHP

Link of WHP and OHS Common fundamental factors

Clear objectives and valid criteria for evaluation of

WHP programs

Future research Broader samples

Workers perspective of WHP needs


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Conclusions

Workplace is one of the most important settings topromote a nations health

Behavioral change approach is not adequate, butmust also include organizational policy andenvironmental aspect consideration


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Reference

Chu C. An integrated approach to workplace healthpromotion. In: Chu CM, Simpson R, eds.Ecological publichealth : from vision to practice . Institute of Applied

Environmental Research, Griffith University ; Toronto :Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto, 1994.

an integrated approach to workplace health promotion

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