Workplace Health Promotion in Europe - the role of national policies and strategies (original) (raw)
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Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2015
Background: This article investigates the legal database and theoretical basis of workplace health promotion (WHP) in three European countries: Finland, Latvia and Lithuania, and aims to find insights into effective WHP implementation. Methods: In November 2013, a stakeholders' survey was carried out. The questionnaire included questions about legal documents and non-legislative measures relevant to WHP, institutions and other bodies/organizations working in the field, WHP conception/definition, and implementation of WHP activities according to the enterprises' size. Results: Only Finland has adopted a specific law on occupational health care (separate from occupational safety). ILO conventions No. 161 (Occupational Health Services Convention) and No. 187 (Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention) are ratified only in Finland. In Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health acts as one ministry, while two Baltic countries have two separate ministries (one for health and another for social affairs). None of the countries has legally approved a definition of WHP. Latvia and Lithuania tend to separate WHP from other activities, whereas Finland integrates WHP into other occupational health and safety elements. Conclusions: Finland has a more extensive legislative and organizational background to WHP than Latvia and Lithuania. In defining WHP, all the countries refer to the Luxembourg Declaration on Workplace Health Promotion in the European Union. Finland's practice of integrating WHP into other occupational health and safety elements is important.
2006
Measures that help people extend their working years and maintain their work ability have risen to the fore in the social welfare and health policies of many European countries. Improving the quality of work life, prolonging work careers, and promoting health at work are all preconditions for achieving a sustainable, stable and productive society, thus furthering the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy. Prolonging careers and health promotion at workplaces were among the themes discussed at the Informal Ministerial Meeting on Employment, Social Policy and Health during Finland’s EU Presidency in July 2006. The meeting also discussed more generally how to meet the challenges posed by globalisation and ageing, and what measures Member States and the EU should take to develop work life. To provide background material for the ministerial meeting, the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health launched a joint project in 2005, “Health in ...
BMC Public Health, 2015
Background: Although the popularity of workplace health promotion (WHP) has considerably increased over the years, there are still concerns about the way this concept is being implemented by the companies. There is, however, a seeming lack of empirical knowledge about variations in WHP practice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of different patterns (and related quality levels) of WHP activity and the effect of organisational predictors on the chances of these WHP activity levels being implemented. Methods: Data from an establishment survey (N = 6,500) were used to calculate the prevalences of four configurations of WHP among German companies. Furthermore, multinominal logistic regressions were performed to determine odds ratios for these WHP activity levels according to several organisational characteristics. Results: 9% of companies exhibited the most comprehensive type of WHP including analysis, individual-directed prevention measures and participatory groups concerned with working conditions improvement (level A), 18% featured a combination of analysis and individual-directed prevention (level B), 29% had reported measures from only one of these categories (level C), and 44% showed no WHP activity at all (level D). In the multivariate analysis company size turned out to be the strongest predictor of WHP at all levels. WHP was also predicted by a good economic situation of the company, the availability of safety specialist assistance, the availability of specialist assistance in occupational health and the presence of an employee representative body. These effects usually became stronger when moving up in the hierarchy of WHP levels. For the two sector-level variables (private vs. public, production vs. services) no statistically significant associations with WHP were found. Conclusions: WHP still shows great potential for improvement both in quantitative and qualitative terms. Especially required are additional efforts in developing and implementing WHP practice models and dissemination strategies which are tailored to the particular conditions and needs of small companies. However, findings suggest that the chances for achieving progress in WHP also depend on developments in adjacent policy areas such as labour relations or occupational safety and health.
Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 2004
Health circles, the central element of a comprehensive health promotion approach that has been developed in Germany in recent years, emphasize organizational and psychosocial factors while actively involving employees in the process. Through an extensive review the authors identified 11 studies, presenting the results of 81 health circles. The scientific quality of the data is limited: Only 3 studies used (nonrandomized) control groups, whereas the remaining studies are based on retrospective before-and-after comparison. Nonetheless, the available data suggest that health circles are an effective tool for the improvement of physical and psychosocial working conditions and have a favorable effect on workers' health, well-being, and sickness absence. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm these results.
Health-promoting workplaces--international settings development
Health Promotion International, 2000
This paper describes two recently established regional networks in workplace health promotion, and examines their history, current status, strategies and models of good practices. This is followed by an overall assessment of the barriers and keys to the success of workplace health pro-motion and the presentation of an evaluation framework for assessing workplace health. The paper concludes by pointing to future challenges and priority issues and the need to foster health-promoting workplace networks at various levels in order to facilitate future development.
The Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) programme in an Italian University Hospital
Journal of Preventive Medicine and Hygiene, 2019
Summary Introduction Description of the lifestyles of employees of the Siena University Hospital (Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese: AOUS), as assessed through a Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) project in the two-year period 2017-18; assessment of possible short-term effects of integrated health promotion interventions in the workplace, within the framework of the Tuscany WHP network, as applied in the AOUS and involving about 1,000 workers. Methods A cross-sectional study and a pre-post evaluation of data collected by means of anonymous questionnaires in two phases: before the beginning of the programme and after 12 months. Results Twelve months after the start of the programme regarding diet (consumption of fruit and vegetables) and physical activity, the positive effects that emerged were not statistically significant. No differences were observed between gender or professional categories. The employees’ perception of the programme was satisfactory. Conclusions Albeit wit...