Collaboration between employers and occupational health service providers: a systematic review of key characteristics

BMC Public Health

Research Article

Hanna Hakulinen¹  Sanna Pesonen¹  Jaana I. Halonen¹  Salla Atkins²  Jukka Uitti³ 

[1] Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 310, 70101, Kuopio, Finland;School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, 33014, Finland, Finland;School of Health Sciences, University of Tampere, 33014, Finland, Finland;Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Uimalankatu 1, 33101, Tampere, Finland;

关键词: Collaboration;    Employer;    Employee;    Occupational health service;    Workplace;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-016-3924-x

 received in 2016-06-24, accepted in 2016-12-09,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundEmployees are major contributors to economic development, and occupational health services (OHS) can have an important role in supporting their health. Key to this is collaboration between employers and OHS. We reviewed the evidence regarding the characteristics of good collaboration between employers and OHS providers that is essential to construct more effective collaboration and services.MethodsA systematic review of the factors of good collaboration between employers and OHS providers was conducted. We searched five databases between January 2000 and March 2016 and back referenced included articles. Two reviewers evaluated 639 titles, 63 abstracts and 20 full articles, and agreed that six articles, all on qualitative studies, met the predetermined relevance and publication criteria and were included. Data were extracted by one reviewer and checked by a second reviewer and analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThree themes and nine subthemes related to good collaboration were identified. The first theme included time, space and contract requirements for effective collaboration with three subthemes (i.e., key characteristics): flexible OHS/flexible contracts including tailor-made services accounting for the needs of the employer, geographical proximity of the stakeholders allowing easy access to services, and long-term contracts as collaboration develops over time. The second theme was related to characteristics of the dialogue in effective collaboration that consisted of shared goals, reciprocity, frequent contact and trust. According to the third theme the definition of roles of the stakeholders was important; OHS providers should have competence and knowledge about the workplace, become strategic partners with the employers as well as provide quality services.ConclusionAlthough literature regarding collaboration between the employers and OHS providers was limited, we identified several key factors that contribute to effective collaboration. This information is useful in developing indicators of effective collaboration that will enable organisation of more effective OHS practices.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017