Nursing Assistants’ Response to Participation in the Pilot Worksite Heart Health Improvement Project (WHHIP): A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Despite nursing assistants' high risk for cardiovascular disease, few studies have aimed to reduce their cardiovascular disease risk. The purpose of this article is to explore factors that facilitated and hindered nursing assistants' participation in a pilot physical-activity- and diet-focused worksite health promotion program that aimed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk. Three focus groups were conducted with 12 (67%) participants of the program. Four themes emerged: motivation to participate in a worksite health promotion program, program participation facilitators, barriers to program participation, and suggestions for future programs. This data can aid future program development.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors of Long-Term Care Workers

“…Blake et al, 2012; Flannery, Resnick, Galik, et al, 2012). The barriers to engaging in regular PA are likely similar to those for the general population and are particularly similar to barriers experienced by low-income, minority women (e.g., lack of perceived need to engage in heart health behaviors, Harkins et al, 2010; Moore-Greene, 2012; and lack of time or conflicting responsibilities, Flannery & Resnick, 2014; Harley, Odoms-Young, Beard, Katz, & Heaney, 2009; Zunker et al, 2008). In addition, the same reasons that long-term care employees find eating a heart healthy diet challenging are similar to the reasons these employees struggle to engage in PA.…”

“…This suspicion is consistent with the finding that only 1% of Americans meet heart healthy nutrition guidelines (e.g., recommendations for salt; Go et al, 2013). Health care workers in these settings certainly experience similar barriers to heart healthy eating (e.g., lack of time, resources, and knowledge) as other Americans and also face unique work-related challenges (increased levels of job stress, lack of uninterrupted break time, and shift work; Flannery & Resnick, 2014; Puttonen, Härmä, & Hublin, 2010; Zunker et al, 2008).…”

The Impact of a Workplace Wellness Program on Provider Health in Early Childhood Education Settings

“…Facilitators to WW participation among employees in non-ECE environments align with these findings. The most common themes identified include “personal motivation” and “social supports” (Fletcher, Behrens, & Domina, 2008), as well as “healthy behavior awareness” (Flannery & Resnick, 2014). Flannery and Resnick’s (2014) study shared participants’ quotes focused on healthy behavior awareness.…”

“…The most common themes identified include “personal motivation” and “social supports” (Fletcher, Behrens, & Domina, 2008), as well as “healthy behavior awareness” (Flannery & Resnick, 2014). Flannery and Resnick’s (2014) study shared participants’ quotes focused on healthy behavior awareness. Participants shared that after participation in the WW program, they thought more about the foods they ate and therefore made a conscious effort to read label, stop mindlessly eating, and eat healthier foods, similar to the findings of this study.…”

“…Barriers related to participation in the WW program included time constraints, difficulty tracking activity, and setting a challenging goal. Several studies also found time to be a common barrier to WW participation (Blake et al, 2013; Flannery & Resnick, 2014). Flannery and Resnick’s study shared that time both inside and outside of work, along with outside-of-work responsibility made it difficult to participate in WW programs.…”