Suchergebnisse

Purpose. Evaluate counselors' adherence to an intervention protocol, counselors' competence, and the associations between three process indicators and body weight at follow-up in a 6-month individually based lifestyle intervention for construction workers. Design. Process evaluation with qualitative and quantitative data. Setting. Occupational health service. Subjects. A total of 408 male construction workers with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease received the intervention, and 27 occupational health professionals delivered the intervention. Intervention. Seven counseling sessions, the first during which four prescribed items had to be discussed. Motivational interviewing (MI) was used as a counseling technique. Measures and Analysis. The number of sessions and the items discussed were registered by the counselors. Adherence to MI was determined by expert scoring of transcripts of random segments of 19 counseling sessions. Counselors' competence was rated by participants and counselors separately. Associations between three process indicators and body weight at follow-up were determined by linear and logistic regression analyses. Results. Two-thirds of all participants attended five or more sessions, and 38.5% attended all seven sessions. In 90.2% of all cases, the counselor discussed all obligatory items in the first session. MI adherence was reached in one audiotaped fragment. Most (86.3%) of all participants agreed with the counselor being competent. Neither counselors' competence nor number of sessions or items discussed was significantly associated with body weight loss. Conclusions. Performing five sessions and discussing four prescribed items was feasible for the counselors, whereas performing MI was not. Still, participants were positive about the counselors' competence and willing to attend the intervention sessions. Investigators are encouraged to report the evaluation of their intervention process to improve future lifestyle interventions in research or in practice.

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to apply the Intervention Mapping approach as a framework in the development of a worksite intervention to improve the work ability of construction workers. Design. Development of an intervention by using the Intervention Mapping approach. Setting. Construction worksite. Participants. Construction workers aged 45 years and older. Measures and Analysis. According to the principles of Intervention Mapping, evidence from the literature was combined with data collected from stakeholders (e.g., construction workers, managers, providers). Results. The Intervention Mapping approach resulted in an intervention with the following components: (1) two individual visits of a physical therapist to lower the physical workload, (2) a Rest-Break tool to improve the balance between work and recovery, and (3) two empowerment training sessions to increase the range of influence at the worksite. Conclusions. Application of Intervention Mapping in the development of a worksite prevention program was useful in the construction industry to obtain a positive attitude and commitment. Stakeholders could give input regarding the program components as well as provide specific leads for the practical intervention strategy. Moreover, it also gives insight in the current theoretical and empirical knowledge in the field of improving the work ability of older workers in the construction industry.

One of the barriers regarding evidence-informed decision making is the gap between the needs of policy makers and the ways researchers present evidence. This pilot study evaluates the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of a tool to enhance transparent and unambiguous communication on scientific evidence by knowledge workers. Therefore, mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) were applied. The results indicate that to promote successful implementation of such a tool, efforts should be undertaken to provide time and guidance on how to adapt routines and on how to apply the tool to various products.

ObjectivesWhite collar workers spend an increasing amount of time in occupational sedentary behavior (OSB) and are thereby at risk for adverse health outcomes. Nevertheless, the association between OSB and the need for recovery (NFR), an important indicator of wellbeing, is unknown and therefore examined.MethodsBaseline data from a cluster randomized controlled trial was used. A subgroup of 89 white collar workers wore a triaxial accelerometer for 7 days. NFR was measured using the Questionnaire on the Experience and Evaluation of Work. Compositional data analysis was applied to determine the composition of different OSB bouts (short, medium and long) and occupational physical activity (OPA) (light, moderate and vigorous and standing). Linear regression analyses were performed to explore the associations between occupational compositions and NFR.ResultsRelatively more time spent in long OSB bouts was associated with a lower NFR (β: −11.30, 95% CI: −20.2 to −2.4). Short and medium OSB bouts and OPA were not associated with NFR.ConclusionAssociations between OSB bouts, OPA and NFR hinted at contrasting trends, suggesting the need to consider different bout lengths of OSB in future studies.