Barriers and enabling factors for work-site physical activity programs: a qualitative examination

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Behavioral Science
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Work sites are ideal settings for physical activity (PA) interventions.
• Despite this, participation rates in worksite PA programs remain low.
• Understanding barriers and facilitators is crucial for improving engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the specific reasons behind common barriers to worksite PA program participation.
• To identify enabling factors that encourage employees to engage in PA programs.
• To explore these factors in relation to occupational status (white-collar vs. blue-collar).

Main Methods:

• Focus groups were conducted with employees from a large city government.
• Participants were stratified by white-collar and blue-collar occupations.
• Data from open-ended questions were analyzed using qualitative coding techniques (open and axial coding).

Main Results:

• Time constraints were the primary barrier for both groups.
• White-collar workers cited scheduling and work conflicts as key time barriers.
• Blue-collar workers identified shift work as their main time-related barrier.
• Health benefits served as a significant motivator for both occupational groups.
• White-collar employees showed greater emphasis on appearance and rapid weight loss results compared to blue-collar workers.

Conclusions:

• Occupational status significantly influences the barriers and motivators for participating in worksite PA programs.
• Tailoring interventions to address specific occupational challenges and motivations is essential for success.
• These insights are vital for designing effective and inclusive worksite health promotion strategies.