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Op naar de vitale werknemer: inventarisatie van beweegredenen ten aanzien van het gebruik van ‘health checks’ op de werkvloer.

Mos, L.M. (2015) Op naar de vitale werknemer: inventarisatie van beweegredenen ten aanzien van het gebruik van ‘health checks’ op de werkvloer.

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Abstract:Introduction: Although the focus on health appears to be rising, the number of users of health checks in the workplace is low (RVZ, 2008). A health check is a medical research method that can be conducted without the existence of a specific health problem and is used for prevention and detection of diseases and health risks to workers (Weel,2007). To give direction to the implementation of - and procedure around- health checks, the KNMG and NVAB developed guidelines in accordance with relevant legislation. This research will focus on the identification of reasons to use health checks in the workplace. This will be performed on the basis of the Theory of Planned Behavior of Ajzen. Method: Fifteen participants, of which eleven workers and four employers have undergone a semi-structured interview. Two interviews are designed in accordance to the TPB and the guidelines of the KNMG and NVAB, to correspond as closely as possible to the different needs and expectations of the participants. The interviews were recorded with a voice recorder, literally transcribed and analyzed by inductive analysis. Results: The demographics of the participants group are as follows: the average age of employees was 35.9 with an SD of 11.5, the average age of employers was 42.5 with an SD of 10.5. One participant assessed his health with 'reasonable', twelve judged themselves with a 'good' and two participants even with a 'very good'. One participant had received a MBO education, ten a HBO, and three a University degree. Only one employee reported having experience with health checks, none of the interviewed employers offered them currently. All participants, however, did have a positive attitude towards health checks in the workplace. The interviews led to a number of findings, namely: (1) there is demand for custom made health checks, regarding the content of health checks, (2) participants expect an informative and lively information about the procedure on the check, (3) there exists discrepancy between the guidelines and the expectations of the employer feedback of results, (4) participants want clarification on privacy, (5) the subjective norm of the TPB seems to affect the choice to use health checks in the workplace or not. Discussion: In spite of Article 18 of the working conditions legislations that obliges employers to offer health checks, from this study it appears that employers do not offer them. In addition, only one employee is in the opportunity to participate. This appears to be the main cause of the low percentage of participants. Within the group of participants there is a positive attitude towards health checks, all of them indicate that they want to participate in it. However, there is a number of confounding factors, namely: (1) high rating of own health, (2) high socioeconomic status, (3) little or no experience with health checks, and (4) all occupy an office job. The subjective norm seems to have greater influence than the attitude, employee and employer depend the choice for the use of health checks on each other. Results from this study provide guidance for practice, namely: (1) adding a choice system with regard to the content, (2) change the method of inviting, (3) research into the effects of the difference in expectation of feedback from employers and (4) follow-up research into the precise impact of the subjective norm.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/68441
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