Masoud Motalebi G1, Nastaran Keshavarz Mohammadi2, Karl Kuhn3, Ali Ramezankhani4, Mansour R Azari5. 1. Ph.D student Health Education and Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, School of Public Health Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2. Associate Professor of Health Promotion, Department of Public Health, School of Public Health Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Retired Chief Scientist and Senior Policy Adviser in the Federal Institute for Safety and Occupational Health in Germany, Adjunct Prof at Griffith University in Brisbane, Chairman of the ENWHP (European Network for Workplace Health Promotion). 4. Professor of Health Education, Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 5. Professor of Occupational Health, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Health promoting workplace frameworks provide a holistic view on determinants of workplace health and the link between individuals, work and environment, however, the operationalization of these frameworks has not been very clear. This study provides a typology of the different understandings, frameworks/tools used in the workplace health promotion practice or research worldwide. It discusses the degree of their conformity with Ottawa Charter's spirit and the key actions expected to be implemented in health promoting settings such as workplaces. METHOD: A comprehensive online search was conducted utilizing relevant key words. The search also included official websites of related international, regional, and national organizations. After exclusion, 27 texts were analysed utilizing conventional content analyses. RESULTS: The results of the analysis were categorized as dimensions (level or main structure) of a healthy or health promoting workplaces and subcategorized characteristics/criteria of healthy/health promoting workplace. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our analysis shows diversity and ambiguity in the workplace health literature regarding domains and characteristics of a healthy/health promoting workplace. This may have roots in lack of a common understanding of the concepts or different social and work environment context. Development of global or national health promoting workplace standards in a participatory process might be considered as a potential solution.
INTRODUCTION: Health promoting workplace frameworks provide a holistic view on determinants of workplace health and the link between individuals, work and environment, however, the operationalization of these frameworks has not been very clear. This study provides a typology of the different understandings, frameworks/tools used in the workplace health promotion practice or research worldwide. It discusses the degree of their conformity with Ottawa Charter's spirit and the key actions expected to be implemented in health promoting settings such as workplaces. METHOD: A comprehensive online search was conducted utilizing relevant key words. The search also included official websites of related international, regional, and national organizations. After exclusion, 27 texts were analysed utilizing conventional content analyses. RESULTS: The results of the analysis were categorized as dimensions (level or main structure) of a healthy or health promoting workplaces and subcategorized characteristics/criteria of healthy/health promoting workplace. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our analysis shows diversity and ambiguity in the workplace health literature regarding domains and characteristics of a healthy/health promoting workplace. This may have roots in lack of a common understanding of the concepts or different social and work environment context. Development of global or national health promoting workplace standards in a participatory process might be considered as a potential solution.