Comprehensive Health Promotion Interventions at the Workplace: Experiences With Health Circles in Germany.

Abstract

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.

Working for health? Evidence from systematic reviews on the effects on health and health inequalities of organisational changes to the psychosocial work environment

“…Seven reviews addressing the health effects of changes to the psychosocial work environment were located: three examined increased employee control (Aust & Ducki, 2004;Bambra et al, 2007;Egan et al, 2007a), and four evaluated the effects of changes to the organisation of work (shift work, privatisation, health and safety legislation) (Bambra et al, 2008a;Bambra et al, 2008b;Egan et al, 2007b;Rivara & Thompson, 2000). Five of the reviews specifically examined effects on health inequalities (Bambra et al, 2007;Bambra et al, 2008a;Bambra et al, 2008b;Egan et al, 2007a;Egan et al, 2007b).…”

“…Two focused largely on increasing employee participation in workplace decision making (Aust & Ducki, 2004;Egan et al, 2007a), whilst the other examined the effects of increased control over work tasks (Bambra et al, 2007).…”

“…The review by Aust and Ducki (2004) synthesised five retrospective studies of "Dusseldorf health circle" interventions (employee discussion groups in which decisions were made about improving harmful working conditions). The review concluded that the effects on health were mixed and inconclusive.…”

Job stress interventions and the organization of work

“…Fortunately, the discussion about changing work versus the person seems to be waning, giving way to an emphasis on more comprehensive and integrative approaches (56,67,68). An important element of many such interventions is a participatory approach, which implies control and empowerment for those involved (69). In addition, it increases the chances that exactly those problems are being focused on that are important for those involved, regardless of whether they are structural or personal.…”

Clustering of lifestyle risk factors in employees: A quasi-experimental study in Sousse, Tunisia

“…A top priority for workplace health promotion is to improve physical work environments to comply with laws, regulations, and standards (37). At the workplace, the active participation of employees and stakeholders in decision making, problem solving, and assessment is indispensable for implementing and sustaining workplace health promotion projects (38,39). These participatory interventions could increase motivation, self-efficacy, confidence and employees' adherence to the project with the purpose to reduce multiple risk factors.…”