Implementing workplace health promotion in nursing - A process evaluation in different care settings

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Nursing Science
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Workplace health promotion (WHP) in Germany receives increasing support from health insurance funds.
• Limited knowledge exists on the process of achieving health outcomes through WHP, particularly in nursing.
• This study addresses the gap by examining WHP implementation in diverse care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how and what can be implemented in different care settings within German nursing.
• To examine participant reactions and interactions with WHP interventions under routine conditions.
• To understand the process of health outcome achievement in nursing WHP.

Main Methods:

• A holistic WHP approach was implemented across four acute care hospitals, seven inpatient facilities, and four outpatient services.
• Data collection included realized WHP interventions, participant assessments, and work design topics.
• Analysis was descriptive, guided by a logic model.

Main Results:

• WHP interventions were contextually adapted, with short relaxation and event-based interventions being common.
• Team-building training achieved the highest participation rates.
• Participants generally found interventions useful, rated quality as good, and expressed high satisfaction. Action plans documented intentions for work organization design.

Conclusions:

• Cooperation between researchers and practitioners is vital for quality development in WHP.
• Context-specific content adjustments are suggested to enhance target group acceptance.
• Findings provide insights for optimizing WHP in nursing and other care settings.