BackgroundThe evidence surrounding the value of workplace health promotion in positively influencing employees’ health and wellbeing via changes to their health behaviours is growing. The aim of the study was to explore employers’ views on the promotion of workplace health and wellbeing and the factors affecting these views.MethodsUsing a qualitative phenomenological approach, 10 focus groups were conducted with employers selected from a range of industries and geographical locations within Western Australia. The total sample size was 79.ResultsThree factors were identified: employers’ conceptualization of workplace health and wellbeing; employers’ descriptions of (un)healthy workers and perceptions surrounding the importance of healthy workers; and employers’ beliefs around the role the workplace should play in influencing health.ConclusionsProgress may be viable in promoting health and wellbeing if a multifaceted approach is employed taking into account the complex factors influencing employers’ views. This could include an education campaign providing information about what constitutes health and wellbeing beyond the scope of occupational health and safety paradigms along with information on the benefits of workplace health and wellbeing aligned with perceptions relating to healthy and unhealthy workers.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether making fruit boxes available in the workplace is a successful health promotion strategy. Design: A quasi-experimental study involving three conditions -free fruit, 50c per piece of fruit and $1 per piece of fruit -to investigate the effect of a contribution scheme on employees' fruit purchase/consumption behaviours and willingness to contribute when in the paid conditions. Setting: Perth, Western Australia. Methods: In total, 36 workplaces participated and were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions. The results were analysed using generalised linear modelling. A qualitative follow-up was conducted with workplace representatives 6 weeks after the completion of the trial to investigate how many workplaces implemented the provision of fruit boxes after the trial and the factors influencing the decision to implement fruit boxes. Results: A significant difference in average fruit purchasing/consumption per person was found with respect to condition (p < .001), with businesses in the free condition purchasing/consuming a significantly greater amount of fruit than businesses in the 50c contribution condition or $1 contribution condition. Following the trial, 13 workplaces continued providing their own fruit box, of which 7 were initially in the free condition. Qualitative findings revealed that management support, a receptive culture and sufficient resources were key to the implementation of fruit boxes. Conclusion: Having a fruit box may be a feasible health promotion strategy, and the financial burden of this strategy could be alleviated by asking employees to contribute to the cost of fruit.

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Active Video Games (AVGs) have been designed and promoted for family centred leisure in the home. However, few studies have investigated their capacity to facilitate psychosocial outcomes. This study aimed to establish a reliable system to rate the potential of AVGs to facilitate social interaction among players. A conceptual framework was developed to establish the core elements of the Social Interaction Potential Assessment Tool (SIPA). Four raters implemented the SIPA across five AVGs. ANOVAs were conducted to establish the ability of the SIPA to differentiate between AVGs and inter-and intra-rater reliability was tested. The overall SIPA could differentiate between AVGs social features. A significant difference was found for Social Facilitators and Pro-social Features, but not for Antisocial Features (p < 0.05). The overall SIPA exhibited excellent inter-rater (ICC = 0.92) and intrarater (ICCs = 0.95-0.99) reliability. This study identified the core elements of AVGs that enable social interaction. The SIPA tool can assess AVGs' potential to facilitate social interaction among players. Subsequently, the SIPA rating can provide consumers with valuable information on which to base AVG purchasing decisions.

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