An Integrated Approach to Workplace Health Promotion

BY CORDIA CHU

Session Objectives
At the end of the report, we will be able to discuss an integrated approach to workplace health promotion. Specifically: 1. Review the basic framework of Workplace Health Promotion (WHP); 2. Explain the relationships between WHP and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) 3. Describe the future of WHP in research

Concept Terms

-People -Environment

Concept Terms
Health Promotion

-The process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve their health -Ottawa Charter

Concept Terms
Workplace Health Promotion (WHP)

Refers to the educational, organizational or economic activities in the workplace that are designed to improve the health of workers and therefore the community at large. This involves workers and management participation on a voluntary basis in the implementation of jointly agreed programs which utilize the workplace as a setting for promoting better health.

-NSCHPWP, 1989

Rationale for WHP

The workplace provides a favorable framework for

health promotion. It is designed to reduce inequality in health. It promotes a healthy workforce which is great for business. - Good health is good business

Integral part of the Corporate Culture

Rationale for WHP

The workplace has been shown as a highly effective place to
implement health promotion programs, achieving not only high participation and adherence rates but also significant benefits for both employers and employees. The benefits of promoting health flow on, not only to workers and their families, but to businesses and the community at large in terms of better health and reduced costs. The long term benefits to Australian society as a whole will include reduced distress from illness and disease, reduced demands on public health systems, plus greater workforce participation and improved quality of life

-Ken Hayward, Queensland Minister for Health

Principles of WHP

Prevention

Participation

Equity and Access

Responsibility

WHP Strategies
The use of interrelated implementation approaches

- Lower level - Medium level - Higher level

MANAGEMENT

WHP Strategies
Involvement of workers in the planning and

implementation

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 social supports Conduct periodic program evaluation - Sorensen, Glasgow and Corbett Model

WHP Strategies
Key Stages in the development of WHP Programs

WHP Strategies
Program Stages

1. Determination of needs 2. Setting of the goals and objectives 3. The use of community resources 4. Determination of strategy to use

WHP Strategies
Evaluation Process

A continuous, systematic process of observing, recording and objectively judging the process and results of a program. Not an end in itself, but rather a means to an end, it should be an integral part of any health promotion activity from its initial planning stages to the program finish. - NSCHPWP

Evaluation not only involves assessment of overall

health outcomes, but also changes in the workplace environment and culture, effectiveness of overall health promotion strategies and program specific achievements methodology
Knowledge and skills in:

Expert knowledge in the workplace Sound evaluation Health promotion theories and techniques

Some problems in WHP evaluation

Are the benefits worth the cost? At what cost is the

benefit achieved?

Benefits may not be immediate, tangible or measurable

Participation rates may be deceptive Severe methodological flaws in cost-effectiveness or

cost-benefit assessment

WHP strategies
WHP Evaluation Stages

1. Establishing baseline data - Demographic, Environment, Industryspecific health problems/risk factors, Organizational features, Literature review/data collection 2. Process evaluation - appropriateness, quality and timeliness of methods

WHP strategies
WHP Evaluation Stages

3. Impact evaluation -Focus on specific program activities, identification of extent of changes to relevant awareness, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, skills, behavioral intentions and actual participants behaviors 4. Outcome evaluation - Examination of the long-term effects of the overall WHP program (goal attainment)

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

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

Conclusions
Workplace is one of the most important settings to

promote a nations health

Behavioral change approach is not adequate, but

must also include organizational policy and environmental aspect consideration

Reference

Chu C. An integrated approach to workplace health

promotion. In: Chu CM, Simpson R, eds. Ecological public health : from vision to practice . Institute of Applied Environmental Research, Griffith University ; Toronto : Centre for Health Promotion, University of Toronto, 1994.