Table 4 Perceptions regarding a workplace health promotion program: focus group results
Category | Topics mentioned |
|---|---|
Preferences regarding the role of the employer in providing a WHPP | General attitude regarding the role of the employer • Lifestyle behaviour is own responsibility — Woman, catering team member, service sector organization (participant 2): ‘Yes, you know, you have to know yourself how your style of life is. If you want to go to the pub every night and drink beers, that's your choice. That's your own responsibility’ • Own motivation is key to change lifestyle • Preference to keep work and private life separate — Woman, domestic worker, healthcare organization (participant 6): ‘I just prefer to arrange things myself. It doesn't have to be through work. I am like: I do my work and for the rest I take care of my things’ Negative attitude towards the employer providing the program • When employer provides this, it feels like an obligation to participate — Woman, domestic worker, healthcare organization (participant 1): ‘If it is offered and you don't participate and a few programmes are provided and every time you don't participate because it, then you get an uncomfortable feeling like, soon they will think: you don't participate anywhere. […] What I'm afraid of is, if you do go along with it, it's not compulsory, but they do offer it and you get sick that you'll be told: 'Yes, but you're not participating either' Positive attitude towards the employer providing the program • Employer is allowed to provide it |
Program delivery source | • The employer |
|  | • Health care specialist or lifestyle coach Reason for a negative attitude towards a health care specialist - Already seeing a health care specialist such as a physiotherapist or dietitian Reasons for a positive attitude in favour of a health care specialist - As support - To gain knowledge - Because of gaining weight - Getting support for improving physical activity |
|  | • A colleague outside the team |
Channel for program delivery | The following channels were mentioned by the participants: • Web-based, because it is user-friendly and commonly used. Suggestions: - Mobile app - E-learning - E-mails - Combining web-based channels, such as E-learning with e-mails Woman, care assistant, healthcare organization (participant 4): ‘You can also do both. I mean using the e-learning once in a while. And then you can send some information now and then which you read again and then you're like: 'Oh yes.' |
Participation of social environment | Colleagues, partner, family, neighbours, and friends were mentioned regarding a person from their social environment whom could participate in the program. Furthermore, the results revealed that: • Participation of a person from the social environment is motivating, especially in physical activity • It is up to the persons (i.e. family members, neighbours, friends) themselves to decide. They should be motivated — Woman, catering team member, service sector organization (participant 1): ‘It's hard to think for people anyway’ — Man, property management team member, public sector organization (participant 2). ‘That person has to decide that for themselves, I have to think about myself’ |
Conditions for participation | Participants perceived the condition of costs in the following way: • Some participants mentioned the employer should pay • Others mentioned it is not important whether the employer pays for it |
|  | Participants perceived the condition of privacy in the following way: • Some participants mentioned the employer is allowed to know everything • Others mentioned colleagues should not see each other’s personal progress |
|  | Participants perceived the condition of time of day dependent on their type of job and related tasks: • Some participants suggested participation directly after working hours • Others mentioned preferring participation during working hours — Man, property management team member, public sector (participant 1): ‘If it's during working hours then you think: yeah, well, a little bit of relaxation […]. Then I still like it, you know. But if you have to do it after working hours, well, then you go, you arrive at a certain time, you go home for dinner first and then you have to be able to get up and say: OK, I'm going to go out and do some sports. And we are getting to a certain age where it is more and more difficult to do that.’ — Man, property management team member, public sector (participant 3): ‘For me it is not like that. I think it is too much hassle. To do it during working hours’ |