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The intention to utilize occupational health services
1Department of Social Medicine, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. hn.plomp.social@med.vu.nl
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|January 7, 1999
Summary
Workers are more likely to use Occupational Health Services (OHS) for individual, medical issues. Their intention to use OHS is linked to their attitude towards occupational physicians, not health status.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Health Services Research
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Occupational Health Services (OHS) play a crucial role in managing workplace health.
- Understanding workers' intentions to utilize OHS is key to optimizing service delivery.
- Previous research has explored factors influencing OHS utilization, but intention remains a critical predictor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe workers' intention to utilize OHS based on a cost-benefit assessment.
- To identify specific types of health problems that drive OHS utilization.
- To examine the relationship between workers' attitudes and their intention to use OHS.
Main Methods:
- Interviews were conducted with 313 employees across three companies.
- The sample over-represented workers with work-related health issues.
- Workers' intentions were assessed in various hypothetical scenarios.
Main Results:
- Workers intend to use occupational physicians for problems perceived as medical, individual, and work-related.
- For collective health issues, supervision is the preferred advisory resource.
- Intention to use OHS positively correlated with a positive attitude toward occupational physicians.
Conclusions:
- Worker intention to use OHS is an independent factor influencing actual utilization.
- OHS utilization is problem-specific, with individual medical issues being a key driver.
- The findings underscore the importance of considering worker intention in OHS evaluation and implementation.