Health Promotion for Small Workplaces: A Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership

Abstract

Background The majority of U.S. worksites are smaller worksites that often employ low-wage workers. Low-wage workers have limited access to, and participation in, workplace health promotion programs. Community-based participatory research (CBPR) has been identified as a key method to directly engage employers in identifying the health promotion needs of smaller workplaces. This article describes a four-phased process where CBPR was used to tailor a workplace health promotion program to meet the needs of a smaller workplace that employees low-wage workers. Outcomes of this program were measured and reported over time. Methods The CBPR approach was based on the Social Ecological Model along with two additional health promotion models. Publicly available evidence-based tools were also used for this four-phased process which included the following: (a) initial program assessment, (b) program planning, (c) program implementation, and (d) program evaluation. Key strategies for developing a comprehensive workplace health promotion program guided the process. Findings The workplace’s capacity for promoting health among its employees was improved. There were sustainable improvements in the health interventions and organizational supports in place. Conclusion/Application to Practice A CBPR approach may be a way to build the capacity of smaller workplaces with low-wage employees to address the health promotion needs of their workforces. The use of publicly available strategies and tools which incorporate the social ecological determinants of health is of equal importance.

Estrategias de apropiación social del conocimiento en salud: revisión sistemática

“…Las encuestas o instrumentos fueron otra modalidad frecuentemente utilizada para el diagnóstico comunitario. Con estas herramientas se midieron frecuencias de hábitos de salud, conocimientos, actitudes, creencias y datos sociodemográficos (30,34,(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44). Otras modalidades utilizadas en pocos estudios, pero que comparten puntos comunes con las anteriores fueron las reuniones con la comunidad, donde se desarrollaban lluvias de ideas para el mapeo de problemas y recursos, y de nuevo la identificación de necesidades y la manera de abordarlas (29,34,(45)(46)(47).…”

“…20(3): 1-20, septiembre-diciembre de 2022 roles de liderazgo para lograr la inmersión en la comunidad y reclutar a los participantes (26,27,(32)(33)(34)47,48); de igual manera, se encargaron de ilustrar y contextualizar a los investigadores externos sobre las dinámicas sociales propias de su comunidad y participaron activamente en el diseño, recolección y análisis de la información (26,34,47,49,50). Se destaca la participación de organizaciones sociales como la Iglesia, instituciones de salud, organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro y estamentos gubernamentales involucrados no solo en el financiamiento, sino también en la identificación de líderes y posibles participantes (31)(32)(33)37,42).…”

“…Además, la fase de diseño se enfocó principalmente en profundizar en el problema y en las posibles maneras de intervenir ( que se iban a utilizar, cómo adoptar el lenguaje y las intervenciones más apropiadas para el contexto (24,32,41,42,48). En otro estudio incluso se planeó un trabajo colaborativo en comunidad por medio de cronogramas de trabajo (33).…”

Examining the Theme: A Healthy Work Place and its Role in Promoting Work Place Health

“…• Health and safety concerns in the physical work environment (Kortum, 2014). • Health, safety and well-being concerns in the psycho-social work environment, including organization of work and workplace culture (Burke, 2019; Zhu et al, 2020) • Personal health resources in the workplace (Chen & Fellenz, 2020) • Ways of participating in the community to improve the health of workers, their families, and other members of the community (Fetherman et al, 2021) This concept shows how workplace health has progressed from a nearexclusive emphasis on the physical work environment to including psychological and personal health-related variables. Not just to avoid workplace harm but also to evaluate and enhance people's general health, the workplace has become a successful venue for promoting health and preventive health practices (Kim, 2016).…”

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Staff Physical Activity: Evidence from the SHAHWAR Cohort Study in Iran

“…In this regard, the workplace of people is one of the appropriate settings for the implementation of these programs. [13,14] Because employed people spend a significant proportion of their time at work.…”