Implementation of an initiative to promote a healthy working environment in a division of family medicine at a university hospital: participatory action research

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the process and the results of the implementation of a project to promote a healthy working environment (HWE) in the Division of Family and Community Medicine at a University Hospital. Methods: Qualitative research using part of a participatory action research conducted between March 2011 and March 2012. The intervention included three working areas (food, physical activity and communication strategies) and was directed to 60 medical professionals and four administrative employees that were working in that service. Questionnaires (adapted from “STEP” proposed by the World Health Organization) have been administered before starting the project and a year of intervention. Semi-structured interviews and participant observation techniques were performed. Results: the project was institutionalized, what highlights its positive impact on the working environment. Consumption of fruits and active breaks during working hours was installed and physical activity/recreative sports spaces during extra-working hours were generated and spread to other divisions of the hospital. After the program a statistically significant increase (+3,04 portions weekly; 95% CI 0.86 to 5.21; p < 0.01) in the weekly average fruit consumption was documented and a no statistically significant increase in the weekly consumption of vegetables (+0.8 weekly servings, 95%CI -1.84 to 3.45; p = 0.55) and in weekly exercise (+101 min; -78.7 to 281.55; p = 0.27). Conclusions: A simple and sustainable intervention contributed to installed fruit consumption during working hours, the possibility of active pause and generates a social networking space for healthy exchange proposals. We hope these results will encourage other working groups to implement programs that promote HWE