What is a health worker? How spa therapists in a Norwegian health hotel understand their work

Abstract

In Norway, as in many other wealthy countries, the number of health-related services that are being offered outside of the health sector is increasing. The present paper is based on qualitative interviews that were conducted with providers of health-related services at a commercial health hotel in Norway. The hotel is marketed as a health hotel - that is, a place for people with health problems and for those who need relaxation and an escape from their stressful everyday lives. The paper discusses whether the providers of this kind of service consider it a health service or if they distinguish and distance themselves from the health system. The interviews showed that they consider themselves health workers and refer to themselves as therapists. Even though they use therapy in the health sector as a model, they distinguish themselves from therapists in the health sector. They do not want to treat what they call sick people. Most of their therapy is directed toward cultivating or improving people's bodies and souls. These service providers think that they contribute to improving their guests' health by teaching them how to take care of themselves; enjoying oneself (for instance, by receiving skin treatment or a massage) is an important aspect of good health. According to the therapists, modern-day women, in particular, are often worn-out, and they deserve, and are entitled, to enjoy themselves. In these ways, the therapists use health to legitimize their services, and they challenge the current understanding of health.

State of the art of research in the sector of thermalism, thalassotherapy and spa: A bibliometric analysis

“…Finally, in others, we can find a small number of publications with a legislative approach, the use of establishments for aesthetic treatments and human resources, highlighting Katz and Gish (2015) in aesthetics, Anderssen (2016) in human resources and Sherry (1966) in legislation.…”

The use of the EUROHIS-QOL-8 to Assess The Perception of Quality of Life at Termas de Chaves

“…It has been found that health and wellness tourism is currently associated with ensuring the maintenance of the individual's health and well-being. Thus, Anderssen (2016) states that the services available in this sector target personal care, health, and well-being and aim to cultivate and improve the body and the soul. In this sense, thermal spas are increasingly sought after by society for offering services that allow them to improve their quality of life.…”