Workplace health promotion in the care sector

Abstract

Background: The number of days where an employee cannot work due to various improper workloads/burdens in the healthcare sector continues to rise, which emphasizes the relevance of workplace health promotion. Objectives: This article aims to highlight the topic of workplace health promotion in the care sector and provides an overview of existing workplace health promotion measures in the healthcare setting. Materials and methods: Based on an explorative literature review, currently available findings regarding workplace health promotion in the care sector are identified and summarized. Proposals for action are derived from these research findings. These proposals should be updated when currently running occupational psychology studies produce new findings. Results: Established interventions in the care sector which include, e.g. mindfulness-based training, interventions to reduce stress/tobacco consumption as well as promotion of healthy eating and physical activity, are presented. Conclusions: Research results show that interventions to decrease stress are effective in reducing caregivers’ perception of stress in the inpatient care setting. Furthermore, web-based interventions seem to be desirable in the outpatient care setting. Possible challenges, e.g., lack of expertise and specialists, for the implementation of workplace health promotion are discussed.