ABSTRACT
The main aim of this three-year follow-up study was to evaluate the long-term effects of a workplace health promotion intervention programme offered by the Neste Oyj corporation's occupational health service. Another aim was to study factors associated with changes in health promotion needs. These were assessed using information obtained by means of questionnaires and laboratory measurements. The target areas assessed were physical activity, musculoskeletal problems, dietary habits, obesity, blood pressure, serum lipids, smoking, quality of sleep and mental well-being. Participants from one oil refinery were offered special health promotion counselling, while those from the other oil refinery studied received only their personal results, written information and instructions. Evaluation of the changes in needs was mainly based on comparison of the results of two examinations performed with an interval of three years. Effects of special health promotion counselling were observed in the target area of physical activity. Elimination of certain health promotion needs was seen in both groups in all of the target areas. The most extensive changes were seen in the target areas of musculoskeletal symptoms, dietary habits, blood pressure and mental well-being. Basic education, occupational status and age-group, as well as the value of tending health were frequent variables explaining the reduction in the need for health promotion activities. Worker participation in health promotion counselling activities provided by occupational health services can be high, as in this study in which the participation rate was 90% and the drop-out rate during the three years only 10%.
Subject(s)
Extraction and Processing Industry , Health Promotion/organization & administration , Health Services Needs and Demand , Occupational Health Services/organization & administration , Petroleum , Adult , Body Mass Index , Female , Finland , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Lipids/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Needs Assessment , Physical Fitness , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
This report describes the screening procedure used in the assessment of health promotion needs in a group of oil refinery employees (n = 885). The aim of the study was to assess the life-style related health promotion needs before initiating an intervention programme study. The frequency of different health promotion needs and their distribution according to age, gender and employee group were examined, as well as the factors explaining different health promotion needs. The assessment was based on laboratory tests and questionnaires covering the target areas of physical activity and fitness, dietary habits, overweight, blood pressure, serum lipids, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep, mental health, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Life-style related health promotion needs were frequent. Self-assessed health was strongly associated with health promotion needs in most of the ten target areas and also with the total number per person of areas with health promotion needs. Health promotion needs were also associated with such demographic variables as age, gender, basic education, and vocational training. If health promotion activities are provided to employees in a company, assessment of individual needs is necessary to find the employees with the greatest need of health promotion actions. This study presents one method of screening, although certain simplification is needed to make it fit into the daily routines. The contents of health promotion activities could also vary according to the differences related to age and gender observed in health promotion needs of the target population.