Healthcare workers' participation in a healthy-lifestyle-promotion project in western Sweden

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Mats Börjesson¹  Ingibjörg H Jonsdottir²  Gunnar Ahlborg³ 

[1] Department of Emergency and Cardiovascular Medicine, , Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden;The Institute of Stress Medicine, Carl Skottsbergs gatan 22B, SE 413 19, Gothenburg, Sweden;Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden;The Institute of Stress Medicine, Carl Skottsbergs gatan 22B, SE 413 19, Gothenburg, Sweden;Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden;

关键词: Healthy Lifestyle;    Health Coach;    Light Physical Activity;    Worksite Health Promotion;    Public Healthcare Sector;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-11-448

 received in 2010-09-28, accepted in 2011-06-08,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundHealthcare professionals play a central role in health promotion and lifestyle information towards patients as well as towards the general population, and it has been shown that own lifestyle habits can influence attitudes and counselling practice towards patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the participation of healthcare workers (HCWs) in a worksite health promotion (WHP) programme. We also aimed to find out whether HCWs with poorer lifestyle-related health engage in health-promotion activities to a larger extent than employees reporting healthier lifestyles.MethodA biennial questionnaire survey was used in this study, and it was originally posted to employees in the public healthcare sector in western Sweden, one year before the onset of the WHP programme. The response rate was 61% (n = 3207). In the four-year follow-up, a question regarding participation in a three-year-long WHP programme was included, and those responding to this question were included in the final analysis (n = 1859). The WHP programme used a broad all-inclusive approach, relying on the individual's decision to participate in activities related to four different themes: physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and happiness/enjoyment.ResultsThe participation rate was around 21%, the most popular theme being physical activity. Indicators of lifestyle-related health/behaviour for each theme were used, and regression analysis showed that individuals who were sedentary prior to the programme were less likely to participate in the programme's physical activities than the more active individuals. Participation in the other three themes was not significantly predicted by the indicators of the lifestyle-related health, (body mass index, sleep disturbances, or depressive mood).ConclusionOur results indicate that HCWs are not more prone to participate in WHP programmes compared to what has been reported for other working populations, and despite a supposedly good knowledge of health-related issues, HCWs reporting relatively unfavourable lifestyles are not more motivated to participate. As HCWs are key actors in promoting healthy lifestyles to other groups (such as patients), it is of utmost importance to find strategies to engage this professional group in activities that promote their own health.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Jonsdottir et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011