Managers attitude towards implementing workplace health promotion programmes to employees in eldercare: a...

To determine the attitudes of eldercare services managers to the potential health benefits of workplace health promotion programmes (WHPPs), including physical exercise during working hours and the feasibility of implementing a WHPP at the workplace.

A cross-sectional study.

Respondents filled out a 14-item questionnaire on attitudes towards the potential health benefits of WHPPs and the feasibility of implementing WHPPs. Differences between groups were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The significance level was set to p ​= ​0.05. Bonferroni's correction was used in the setting of multiple comparisons. A content analysis was performed exploring answers provided in the optional comment section in the questionnaire.

695 eldercare services managers in Denmark were contacted by email, 393 replied, and 382 respondents were included in the analysis (54.7%). The survey revealed that 89.8% of the respondents believed that WHPPs would increase health, 89.6% believed that it would increase well-being and 87.6% believed that WHPPs would increase workability among workers. 87.7% expressed a willingness towards implementing WHPPs and believed 'it to be a good idea'. Respondents with a negative attitude to the feasibility of implementing WHPPs, were more likely to hold negative attitudes to the potential health benefits of WHPPs (p ​< ​0.001). Organisational issues were the most frequently stated barrier to implementation.

The majority of eldercare managers expressed a positive attitude to the benefits of WHPPs and their implementation. Addressing organisational issues and ensuring management support in the planning stage of a WHPP is highly important.