An Exploration of Contextual Aspects that Influence Cardiovascular Disease Risks Perceived by Workers in a Small-Medium-Sized Workplace.

Jin Ah Kim,Juhye Jin,Won Ju Hwang

doi:10.3390/ijerph17145155

Abstract

Contextual factors are associated with risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) perceived by personnel employed in small–medium-sized workplaces. In an ecological model, data collection and analysis were undertaken, stratified by intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organizational contexts of blue-collar workers. Data were collected in face-to-face (n = 36) and focus group (n = 4) interviews and subjected to qualitative content analysis, to generate three main themes, 10 generic categories and 18 sub-categories. At the intrapersonal level, “physical burden”, “burn out due to overtime work”, “no time to take care of health because of family responsibility”, and “lack of recognition and knowledge of CVD risks” were derived from the individual interviews. At the interpersonal level, “stress of possible job losses”, “dislike of stigmatization of unhealthy persons”, “smoking and drinking to reduce relationship stress”, and “unhealthy work environment” differed by level of risk perception. “Preferred economic value” and “lack of understanding about importance of CVD management of an employer” emerged at the organizational level. Factors that influence CVD risks among workers in small–medium-sized business were present at the multiple levels. Therefore, healthcare providers in the field of occupational health should consider CVD risks in the context of blue-collar workers and organizational level for health-promotion programs.

Highlights

Small–medium-sized businesses with less than 300 employees [1] account for approximately 99.8%of all businesses in South Korea, and 85% of all employees work in small–medium-sized workplaces [2].The 2017 Occupational Safety and Health Act does not impose any obligation on small–medium-sized businesses to appoint resident healthcare managers; even when healthcare managers are available, they can hold concurrent positions
We investigated organizational vulnerability as a contextual factor that influences cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks in workers employed in small–medium-sized workplaces
This study was conducted to explore the contextual aspects that influence CVD risks perceived by workers, the employer, and the visiting occupational health nurse, who are the members of small–medium-sized workplaces based on the socioecological model

Summary

Introduction

The 2017 Occupational Safety and Health Act does not impose any obligation on small–medium-sized businesses to appoint resident healthcare managers; even when healthcare managers are available, they can hold concurrent positions. Workers in small–medium-sized businesses who receive healthcare services have lesser opportunities for early disease screening and health-promotion education when compared to workers in larger businesses with more than 300 employees and resident healthcare managers. In this regard, the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease was higher in workers in small–medium-sized business than in larger businesses [4], which classifies workers in small–medium-sized businesses as a group vulnerable to healthcare management from a cardiovascular disease focus

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion