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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2021) | Viewed by 16208

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marguerite C Sendall

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Guest Editor

School of Public Heallth and Social Work, Facilty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
Interests: workplace health promotion; nutrition and physical activity; hard-to-reach groups such as truckies; bus drivers and miners; digital technologies; health outcomes

Prof. Cameron Newton

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Guest Editor

School of Management, Queensland University of Technology, Z917, Z Block, Australia
Interests: organisational culture/identification and effectiveness; occupational stress and decision making; nonprofit organisation research

Prof. Dr. Kristy Sanderson

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Guest Editor

School of Health Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK
Interests: workplace health promotion; mental health; sleep; shiftwork; first responders; health care workforce

Special Issue Information

This Special Issue is titled ‘New Advances in Workplace Health Promotion’. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is a peer-reviewed scientific publication publishing communication and empirical research in the interdisciplinary environmental health science and public health field. More information can be found at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

According to the World Health Organisation (2020), chronic disease is the leading cause of death globally claiming 36 million lives, or 63% of all deaths, each year. Most chronic disease deaths are due to cardiovascular disease, cancers, respiratory diseases, and diabetes. The modifiable risk factors for chronic disease are 1) poor nutrition, 2) physical inactivity, and 3) tobacco use. Chronic diseases are projected to contribute increasingly to the global burden of ill-health.

Workplace culture, defined by systems, structures, and policies, can influence healthy or unhealthy behaviors and choices affecting workers’ health outcomes. Workers spend up to 60% of waking hours at work, which makes workplaces a perfect place to promote healthy behaviors. Health promotion in the workplace has the potential to impact workers’ health behaviors and outcomes.

However, we have a limited understanding of the complex and nuanced relationship between workplace culture and health promotion. In particular, we have little understanding of effective contemporary health promotion interventions using digital technologies.

This Special Issue offers authors the opportunity to publish high-quality multidisciplinary empirical research and reviews that focus on the systems, structures, policies, and culture of healthy behavior change and health promotion in the workplace. Your original manuscript or rigorous systematic review will excite contemporary thought endeavors to better understand the complexity of healthy behavior change and health promotion in the context of workplace culture. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed designs are welcome.

Manuscripts can focus on but are not limited to the following topics:

Populations such as hard-to-reach, at-risk groups like truck and bus drivers, builders, and construction workers, farmers, and miners.
Contexts such as managers and management and policy and procedure.
Risk factors such as poor nutrition, a lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and drinking alcohol at hazardous levels.
Interventions or narrative inquiries about digital and smart technologies or social media.

Manuscripts with robust theoretical frameworks such as models of healthy behavior change, a translational science focus, such as action research, or using innovative research methods are welcome.

If you research on these topics, you are invited to submit manuscripts for consideration for this Special Issue in IJERPH.

Dr. Marguerite C Sendall
Prof. Cameron Newton
Prof. Kristy Sanderson
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

public health
population health
health promotion
work
workers
workplace
managers
culture
environment
health
wellbeing
risk factors
chronic disease
sitting
sedentary
nutrition
physical activity
interventions
behaviour change
health outcomes
digital technologies
smart technologies
social media

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1173 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Executive Function in the Effectiveness of Multi-Component Interventions Targeting Physical Activity Behavior in Office Workers

by Rui Wang, Victoria Blom, Carla F. J. Nooijen, Lena V. Kallings, Örjan Ekblom and Maria M. Ekblom

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(1), 266; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010266 - 27 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3540

Abstract

A knowledge gap remains in understanding how to improve the intervention effectiveness in office workers targeting physically active (PA) behavior. We aim to identify the modifying effect of executive function (EF) on the intervention effectiveness targeting PA-behaviors, and to verify whether the observed effect varies by Job Demand Control (JDC) categories. This workplace-based intervention study included 245 participants who were randomized into a control group and two intervention arms—promoting physical activity (iPA) group or reducing sedentary behavior (iSED) group. The interventions were conducted through counselling-based cognitive behavioral therapy and team activities over 6 months. PA-behaviors were measured by an accelerometer. EF was assessed by the Trail Making Test-B, Stroop, and n-back test. The JDC categories were measured by the demand control questionnaire. Higher EF level at baseline was significantly associated with the intervention effect on increased sleep time (β-coefficient: 3.33, p = 0.003) and decreased sedentary time (−2.76, p = 0.049) in the iSED-group. Participants with active jobs (high job demands, high control) presented significantly increased light-intensity PA in the iSED-group in comparison to the control group. Among participants with a high level of EF and active jobs, relative to the control group, the iPA-group showed a substantial increase in light-intensity PA (1.58, p = 0.036) and the iSED-group showed a tendency of reducing sedentary behavior (−5.35, p = 0.054). The findings suggest that office workers with a high EF and active jobs may benefit most from an intervention study targeting PA-behaviors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Workplace Health Promotion)

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9 pages, 488 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Supporting the Sharing of Mental Health Challenges in the Workplace: Findings from Comparative Case Study Research at Two Mental Health Services

by Alicia Jean King, Tracy Lee Fortune, Louise Byrne and Lisa Mary Brophy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12831; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312831 - 6 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3892

Abstract

Personal experience with mental health (MH) challenges has been characterized as a concealable stigma. Identity management literature suggests actively concealing a stigma may negatively impact wellbeing. Reviews of workplace identity management literature have linked safety in revealing a stigma to individual performance, well-being, engagement and teamwork. However, no research to date has articulated the factors that make sharing MH challenges possible. This study employed a comparative case study design to explore the sharing of MH challenges in two Australian MH services. We conducted qualitative analyses of interviews with staff in direct service delivery and supervisory roles, to determine factors supporting safety to share. Workplace factors supporting safety to share MH challenges included: planned and unplanned “check-ins;” mutual sharing and support from colleagues and supervisors; opportunities for individual and team reflection; responses to and management of personal leave and requests for accommodation; and messaging and action from senior organizational leaders supporting the value of workforce diversity. Research involving staff with experience of MH challenges provides valuable insights into how we can better support MH staff across the workforce. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Workplace Health Promotion)

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11 pages, 312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

University Staff and Students’ Attitudes towards a Completely Smoke-Free Campus: Shifting Social Norms and Organisational Culture for Health Promotion

by Marguerite C. Sendall, Lauren Fox and Darren Wraith

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 7104; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18137104 - 2 Jul 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2778

Abstract

A large university in Queensland, Australia with a diverse staff and student community introduced a campus wide smoke-free policy in 2016. The purpose of this enquiry was to understand attitudes about a new smoke-free policy, its potential impact and the shift in social norms and organizational culture to inform the next phase of implementation. An electronic survey was distributed to all staff and students approximately 12 weeks after the smoke-free policy was implemented. The survey consisted of multiple-choice questions about demographics, smoking behaviour, attitudes towards smoking and tobacco control, awareness of the smoke-free policy, and attitudes towards the effect of a completely smoke-free campus on quality of life, learning and enrolment. The survey was completed by 641 university staff and students. Respondents reported seeking out (80.4%) and socialising in smoke-free environments (86.6%) and supported smoke-free buildings (96.1%), indoor areas (91.6%), and outdoor areas (79%). The results revealed overwhelming support for a completely smoke-free campus (83%) and minority support for designated smoking areas (31%). Overall, respondents reflected positively towards a campus wide smoke-free policy. These findings suggest Queensland’s early adoption of tobacco control laws influenced the social environment, de-normalised smoking, changed behaviour, preference for smoke-free environments and shifted social norms. These findings provide convincing evidence for organisational change and suggest health promotion policy makers should progress the implementation of smoke-free policies nationally across the higher education sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Workplace Health Promotion)

10 pages, 297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Substituting Types of Physical Activity on Body Fat Mass and Work Efficiency among Workers

by Jiameng Ma, Dongmei Ma, Junghoon Kim, Qiang Wang and Hyunshik Kim

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5101; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105101 - 12 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2052

Abstract

Low levels of physical activity (PA) not only increase healt h risks but also affect employee productivity. Although daily activity is interdependent with work productivity and personal health, few studies have examined how substituting physical activities would affect health and work efficiency. The present study aimed to investigate how substituting sedentary behaviors (SB) with increased PA and increasing the intensity of low-level activities during waking times affects the body fat mass and work efficiency of employees. Data were collected from 224 Japanese employees. SB, light physical activity (LPA), moderate physical activity (MPA), and vigorous physical activity (VPA) were measured using a tri-axial accelerometer, and body fat mass and work efficiency were also assessed. Analyses of the effects of substituting behaviors were based on the methods used in the isotemporal substitution model. Body fat mass decreased after substituting behaviors for 30 min per day: from SB to VPA (β = −4.800, 95% CI = −7.500; −2.100), from LPA to VPA (β = −4.680, 95% CI = −7.350; −1.980), and from MPA to VPA (β = −4.920, 95% CI = −7.680; −2.190). For work efficiency and physical activities, a higher work efficiency score was observed when substituting SB with LPA (β = 0.120, 95% CI = 0.030; 0.240), and a lower work efficiency score was observed when substituting LPA with VPA (β = −0.660, 95% CI = −1.350; −0.030). These results should help achieve greater results in promoting health and increasing work productivity by properly distributing and practicing daily physical activities during work hours. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Workplace Health Promotion)

Review

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17 pages, 1463 KiB

Open AccessReview

Occupational Risks in Hospitals, Quality of Life, and Quality of Work Life: A Systematic Review

by Carlos Rodrigo Nascimento de Lira, Rita de Cássia Akutsu, Priscila Ribas de Farias Costa, Luana de Oliveira Leite, Karine Brito Beck da Silva, Raquel B. A. Botelho, António Raposo, Heesup Han, Antonio Ariza-Montes, Luis Araya-Castillo and Renata Puppin Zandonadi

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11434; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111434 - 30 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2760

Abstract

This study systematically reviewed the relationship between occupational risks and quality of life (QoL) and quality of work life (QWL) in hospitals. A systematic review was performed according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guide, and the protocol was submitted on the PROSPERO website (CRD 2019127865). The last search was performed in June 2021 by two independent reviewers in the main databases, a gray literature database, and a manual search (LILACS, MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Embase, Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, Ovid). As eligibility criteria, we included observational studies, with adult hospital workers, with no restrictions on date and language, any type of instrument to assess QoL and QWL, any definition of QoL and QWL, and studies that presented the relationship between exposure and outcome. Newcastle–Ottawa was used to assess the methodological quality and RTI-Item Bank to assess the risk of bias. Given the impossibility of performing a meta-analysis, a qualitative synthesis was used to present the results. Thus, 11 studies met the criteria and were included in the review, with 6923 individuals aged 18 to 64 years. The studies were mainly carried out with health professionals (81.81%), women (63.60%), and in Asian countries (63.63%). All studies used different instruments and ways to categorize the QoL and QWL, and occupational risks. Only one study assessed occupational noise and another the ergonomic risk. All of them presented a relationship between occupational risk and quality of work life. They pointed to the need for measures to improve the lives of these professionals in the work environment. Therefore, studies show a relationship between occupational risks (noise, ergonomics, and stress) and workers’ perception of low or moderate quality of work life. However, more homogeneous studies are necessary for instruments, conceptualization, and categorization of quality of work life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Workplace Health Promotion)

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