Search

Background: Growing evidence supports the integration and coordination of occupational health and safety and workplace health promotion activities instead of these coexisting as siloed efforts. Identifying implementation challenges and how these can be overcome is an important step to achieving truly integrated worker health efforts. We conducted a scoping review to identify the barriers and facilitators to integrated worker health approaches and described recommendations for implementing these efforts. Method: Peer-reviewed articles and gray literature from 2008 to 2019 were searched from the following electronic databases: EMBASE, Ovid Medline, PsycINFO, and ABI/INFORM. References from relevant articles and key informant suggestions also were collected. Data were extracted from documents if they focused on the occupational health and safety and health promotion of workers and described outcomes associated with integrated worker health approaches or outlined considerations relevant to the implementation of these approaches. Results: Fifty-one documents met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Barriers and facilitators to implementing integrated worker health approaches were found at the extraorganizational, organizational, worker, and program levels, with limited resource availability the most reported barrier and support from leadership the most reported facilitator. Ten broad recommendations were identified and highlighted gaining leadership support, demonstrating leadership commitment, developing worker-centric approaches, and building capacity for workers. Conclusion: In reviewing the literature, we found clear and consistent recommendations relevant for integrated worker health approaches. Further research is needed to better understand how these recommendations apply to diverse workforces and organizations with varied resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to workplace showers and change rooms (WS/CR) has been found to be associated with active commuting (AC). Yet it is unclear whether this extends to older workers. We examined the association between WS/CR and AC (walking, cycling) comparing older and younger workers. Data came from 53,294 respondents to the 2007-2008 Canadian Community Health Survey. Associations between WS/CR and walking and cycling were analyzed for main effects and by age and sex using logistic regression. Compared with younger ages, workers 50 to 75 years old were more likely to cycle to work if WS/CR were available (odds ratio [OR] = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.13, 2.58]), though the overall and sex-related associations between WS/CR and AC were nonsignificant. WS/CR may be a promising strategy to promote AC particularly among older workers. With large numbers of middle- and older-aged adults working longer, the implications of AC for sustaining good health may be considerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Examine feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of the Timing it Right Stroke Family Support Program (TIRSFSP) and collect pilot data. Design: Multi-site mixed method randomized controlled trial. Setting: Acute and community care in three Canadian cities. Subjects: Caregivers were family members or friends providing care to individuals who experienced their first stroke. Intervention: The TIRSFSP offered in two formats, self-directed by the caregiver or stroke support person-directed over time, were compared to standard care. Main measures: Caregivers completed baseline and follow-up measures 1, 3 and 6 months post-stroke including Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression, Positive Affect, Social Support, and Mastery Scales. We completed in-depth qualitative interviews with caregivers and maintained intervention records describing support provided to each caregiver. Results: Thirty-one caregivers received standard care (n=10), self-directed (n=10), or stroke support person-directed (n=11) interventions. We retained 77% of the sample through 6-months. Key areas of support derived from intervention records (n=11) related to caregiver wellbeing, caregiving strategies, patient wellbeing, community re-integration, and service delivery. Compared to standard care, caregivers receiving the stroke support person-directed intervention reported improvements in perceived support (estimate 3.1, P=.04) and mastery (estimate .35, P=.06). Qualitative caregiver interviews (n=19) reflected the complex interaction between caregiver needs, preferences and available options when reporting on level of satisfaction. Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest the research design is feasible, caregivers’ needs are complex, and the support intervention may enhance caregivers’ perceived support and mastery. The intervention will be tested further in a large scale trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]