The Implementation of Preventive Health Measures in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises—A Combined Quantitative/Qualitative Study of Its Determinants from the Perspective of Enterprise Representatives

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Friederike E. Benning¹  Karin I. Proper¹  Sandra H. van Oostrom¹  Femke van Nassau²  Rosanne Schaap²  Johannes R. Anema² 

[1] Center for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands;Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands;

关键词: implementation;    determinants;    preventive health measures;    small and medium-sized enterprise;    exploratory study;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph19073904

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The workplace is an ideal environment for promoting workers’ health. Nevertheless, preventive health measures are insufficiently implemented, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with up to 250 employees. The aim of this study was to investigate determinants for the implementation of measures to prevent musculoskeletal and mental health disorders from the perspective of enterprise representatives in Dutch SMEs. An online survey was completed by 79 SME representatives (e.g., owners, HR professionals and occupational health and safety officers) in the cleaning, care, construction and transport sectors. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 enterprise representatives. The interview transcripts were analyzed using an inductive approach. Survey data showed that the focus of prevention efforts by SMEs is on improving working conditions and complying with legally required occupational health requirements, while lifestyle measures are rarely implemented. The determinants of implementation according to enterprise representatives were associated with 10 distinct themes. These were (1) available resources (both finances and staff), (2) complexity of implementation of measures, (3) awareness, (4) knowledge and expertise, (5) availability of time, (6) employer and worker commitment, (7) workers’ openness for measures, (8) communication, (9) workers’ trust and autonomy and (10) integration in organizational policy. These findings can serve as a support for developing strategies for implementing preventive health measures in SMEs.

【 授权许可】

Unknown