Employers’ views of promoting walking to work: a qualitative study

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical inactivity increases the risk of many chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers. It is currently recommended that adults should undertake at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity in bouts of 10 minutes or more throughout the week. One way for adults in employment to incorporate exercise into their daily routine is to walk during the commute to and from work. Schemes to promote active travel require the support of employers and managers but there is a lack of research focusing on their views and experiences of promoting walk to work schemes.MethodsThis study presents the findings from in-depth, digitally recorded interviews with 29 employers from a range of small, medium and large workplaces who participated in a feasibility study to develop and test an employer-led scheme to promote walking to work. All recordings were fully transcribed. The Framework approach for data management was used to aid qualitative analysis. Interview transcripts were read and reread, and textual data were placed in charts focusing on facilitators, barriers, and possibilities for employers to promote walking to work.ResultsA range of perspectives were identified, from active support through uncertainty and cynicism to resistance. The majority of employers who took part in the study were unclear about how to give practical support for employees who walk to work, but appeared more confident about ideas to promote cycling. Some employers were concerned about how their attempts to promote walking might be perceived by employees. Furthermore, the main business of their organisation took priority over other activities.ConclusionsIt is clear that employers need more evidence of the effectiveness of walk to work schemes, and the benefits to employers of committing resources to them. Furthermore, employers need support in creating an authentic, health promoting ethos within the workplace to enhance positive relationships and reduce tensions that may arise when promoting active travel initiatives.

Does exposure to new transport infrastructure result in modal shifts? Patterns of change in commute mode choices in a four-year quasi-experimental cohort study

“…We applied a negative square root transformation to the distance, so that greater proximity corresponded with a higher level of exposure to the intervention, as in previous published analyses of the data (Heinen et al, 2014, Heinen et al, 2015, Panter et al, 2016, Prins et al, 2016). …”

Promotion of Worker’s Health in Qualitative Research Approaches: A Scoping Review

“…Studies conducted in other countries Table 2 summarizes the research conducted in other countries, according to the objective, interviewed audience, and the categories that emerged from the analysis. Regarding the methodology of studies presented in this section, eleven were a post-intervention qualitative evaluation 29,31,32,33,34,35,39,42,43,44,45 . Being that four used interviews and focus groups as the data collection method 29,38,44,45 ; three, focus groups only 30,35,37 ; eight, interviews only 31,32,34,36,39,40,41,43 ; and two conducted interviews and participant observation 33,42 .…”

“…Regarding the methodology of studies presented in this section, eleven were a post-intervention qualitative evaluation 29,31,32,33,34,35,39,42,43,44,45 . Being that four used interviews and focus groups as the data collection method 29,38,44,45 ; three, focus groups only 30,35,37 ; eight, interviews only 31,32,34,36,39,40,41,43 ; and two conducted interviews and participant observation 33,42 . Regarding the theoretical and/or methodological reference for data analysis, one study used the Socio-Ecological Model of Health Promotion 31 ; five used the Grounded Theory 32, 36,37,39,41 ; one used Phenomelogy 37 ; others, thematic analysis only 34,38,40,42,43,44,45 .…”

Employer schemes to encourage walking to work: feasibility study incorporating an exploratory randomised controlled trial

“…Interviews were conducted with employers/managers at various stages of the study (Table 22). 65 Participant ID numbers reflect the stage at which the interview took place: during the phase 1 development work (P1); during the exploratory trial at baseline (DC1) or post intervention (DC2); and at the end of the intervention period with employers who had expressed an interest originally but did not continue with the study (prefixed with the digit 9). These are followed by the numerical workplace ID and participant ID.…”