Abstract

Working conditions in the care sector, especially under the increased strain during COVID-19, make it difficult for outpatient caregivers to adhere to health-promoting behaviours. Research on workplace health promotion (WHP) and COVID-19 support measures in outpatient care services is limited. The aim of this pilot study was to characterise the current situation of WHP and COVID-19 support measures in outpatient care services and to explore how to offer WHP support measures targeted for a specific group. A web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted with outpatient caregivers (N = 171) in northern Germany. The results showed that 60.2% of the study participants were offered WHP support measures, with significantly higher work engagement when WHP support measures were available (Z = 4279.50, p < 0.01) and that 77.2% received specific support from their employer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although spending a break in a break room was significantly associated with longer breaks as compared with being in a car (Z = 39.10, padj. = 0.01), a break room was neither available in all outpatient care services, nor did it appear to be feasible. Overall, WHP in outpatient care services is insufficiently covered. In order to be able to offer WHP support measures that are targeted to outpatient caregivers, cooperation among local care services, feasibility, and digital measures should be examined.

Highlights

  • IntroductionThe proportion of Germans aged 65 and older will rise to 5.6 million by 2060 [1]

  • We addressed our research to the following issues: (a) measures for workplace health promotion and their usage in outpatient care services, (b) work engagement of outpatient caregivers who were offered workplace health promotion measures as compared with colleagues who were not offered any workplace health promotion measures, (c) the role of a break room and its link to health promotion in outpatient care services, (d) the role of apps’

  • A group comparison showed that the total score of work engagement was significantly higher for outpatient caregivers who stated that health promotion measures were available at their workplace (Z = 4279.50, p < 0.01) as compared with their colleagues who responded that they did not to have access to any measures

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Summary

Introduction

The proportion of Germans aged 65 and older will rise to 5.6 million by 2060 [1]. This will lead to an increase in the number of people in need of care and, in the number of nursing staff required [2]. The high occupational health burden due to shift work, time, and performance pressure [3], and an increased potential for social conflict when dealing with patients [4], has made it difficult to adhere to health-promoting behaviours [5]. This can result in health impairments [6], as

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