A participatory physical and psychosocial intervention for balancing the demands and resources among industrial workers (PIPPI): study protocol of a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Background: Need for recovery and work ability are strongly associated with high employee turnover, well-being and sickness absence. However, scientific knowledge on effective interventions to improve work ability and decrease need for recovery is scarce. Thus, the present study aims to describe the background, design and protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention to reduce need for recovery and improve work ability among industrial workers. Methods/Design: A two-year cluster randomized controlled design will be utilized, in which controls will also receive the intervention in year two. More than 400 workers from three companies in Denmark will be aimed to be cluster randomized into intervention and control groups with at least 200 workers (at least 9 work teams) in each group. An organizational resources audit and subsequent action planning workshop will be carried out to map the existing resources and act upon initiatives not functioning as intended. Workshops will be conducted to train leaders and health and safety representatives in supporting and facilitating the intervention activities. Group and individual level participatory visual mapping sessions will be carried out allowing team members to discuss current physical and psychosocial work demands and resources, and develop action plans to minimize strain and if possible, optimize the resources. At all levels, the intervention will be integrated into the existing organization of work schedules. An extensive process and effect evaluation on need for recovery and work ability will be carried out via questionnaires, observations, interviews and organizational data assessed at several time points throughout the intervention period. Discussion: This study primarily aims to develop, implement and evaluate an intervention based on the abovementioned features which may improve the work environment, available resources and health of industrial workers, and hence their need for recovery and work ability

National Working Conditions Surveys in Europe: A Compilation

[Excerpt] Eurofound’s European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) has been measuring working conditions across the European Union for the past 20 years. It is a unique instrument for better understanding the quality of work and employment and the factors influencing it. Eurofound is committed to improving further the quality of the EWCS and strengthening its relevance for Eurofound’s tripartite stakeholders. Some of the most important sources of information for the development of the EWCS questionnaire are the national surveys on working conditions. This compilation is a follow-up of a study of working conditions surveys commissioned by Eurofound in 2006 which covered both national and transnational working conditions surveys (Eurofound, 2007). The main goals of this inventory are to: update the background information on existing national working conditions surveys; create a source of basic information from national working conditions surveys related to methodologies, quality control procedures, fieldwork and findings; provide a practical resource for researchers, policymakers, social partners and others with a professional interest in working conditions

Specialskoleelevers resultater ved skolegangens afslutning og fem år senere

Børne‐ og undervisningsministeriet indgik i december 2012 en aftale om i et forskningsmæssigt samarbejde mellem Aarhus Universitet (Institut for Uddannelse og Pædagogik/forskningsprogrammet SILO) og SFI at gennemføre et projekt, der har til formål at etablere viden om kvalitet på specialskolerne og udvikle kvalitet på skolerne. De enkelte dele af projektet er beskrevet i fem rapporter og tre former for webbaserede kvalitetsudviklingsværktøjer. De fem rapporter er alle udgivet af Institut for Uddannelse og Pædagogik på Aarhus Universitet, hvor de også kan downloades gratis

Danske seniorers (65+) motiver og barrierer for fysisk aktivitet

The proportion of older adults is increasing in Denmark. At the same time physical activity is becoming an increasingly popular arena to prevent illness, promote health and increase life quality. This case study examined older adults’ (65-75 y) motives and barriers for participation in organised physical activity. Using a single embedded case study, we collected data through semi structured interviews and observation. The theoretical framework is Ryan & Deci’s Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Results of this study indicate that informants had several intrinsic and extrinsic motives. Among the extrinsic motives were better health, absence of illness, a good retirement and complying with social norms. A number of integrated and structural motives also exist: positive experience with sports, appropriate challenges, social interaction, diverse sports activities and freedom of choice. The older adults described barriers such as: difficult to self-initiate participation in sports, health related issues and lacking experiences with sports. Furthermore, the study discusses behaviour change triggers to stimulate healthy behaviour in old age using a revised FBM-model. In addition, organised physical activity that promotes satisfaction of the psychological needs is essential for the adherence. Based on the results and discussion, implications for practice are provided through recommendations on physical activity for older adults, based on organisation, activities and recruitment. Results of this study indicate that informants had several intrinsic and extrinsic motives. Among the extrinsic motives were better health, absence of illness, a good retirement and complying with social norms. A number of integrated and structural motives also exist positive experience with sports, appropriate challenges, social interaction, diverse sports activities and freedom of choice. The older adults described barriers such as: difficult to self-initiate participation in sports, health related issues and lacking experiences with sports. Furthermore, the study discusses behaviour change triggers to stimulate healthy behaviour in old age using a revised FBM-model. In addition, organised physical activity that promotes satisfaction of the psychological needs is essential for the adherence. Based on the results and discussion, implications for practice are provided through recommendations on physical activity for older adults, based on organisation, activities and recruitment

Lavindkomst og antal kontakter med almen praksis

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to examine whether there exist differences in utilization of general practice between low income groups and citizens with higher income after adjustment for social and health-related factors Material and methods: Various registers from Statistics Denmark with information on all adult citizens of Odense Municipality in 2003-2005 are applied. Income is measured as equivalent disposable income and adjustment for social and health-related personal characteristics are conducted using Poisson regression. Results: Poor with income below 73.000 DKK have 2-3 fewer contacts with general practice annually than those with an income of 73.000-146.000 DKK, depending upon age groups. The difference in contacts with general practice between the poor and those with a higher income is statistically significant. The difference is reduced to 1.5 fewer contacts after adjustment for differences in social and health-related characteristics. Conclusion: Poor adults have significantly fewer contacts with general practice than those with higher income. The difference is not explained by social and health-related factors. This is in contrast to results from earlier studies and may be an indication of underutilization of general practice. Other explanations may be that the poor enter the primary health sector through other channels, that the type and quality of contacts vary between income groups or that adjustment for health or other need indicators are not sufficient.Health care utilization; General Practice; poverty; Social inequality