[Is it possible to sustain health promotion programs in private companies? The case of four Quebec private companies of blue collar workers].
OBJECTIVE
Sustained health promotion programmes in the workplace (HPPW) continues to be a public health challenge. This article presents an evaluation of the implementation and sustainability of such programmes in private blue-collar companies in Quebec to shed light on issues specific to this type of setting.


METHODS
A multiple case (4 sites), longitudinal (7 years) and interpretive study method was used. The interpretation framework considered that the implementation and sustainability of HPPW in companies are the result of organizational learning in health promotion, determined by the strategies of individuals in a position of control who shape the decisional processes related to these programmes.


RESULTS
After seven years of observation, two of the four sites had continued their HPPW, although these programmes were no longer applied within these companies. The health promotion organizational learning processes in both sites were defined according to targeted organizational purposes set by the decision-makers who supported HPPW. However, these gains were largely lost when HPPW were no longer retained as a component of their organizational development strategy.


CONCLUSIONS
The organizational conditions that are conducive to HPPW are difficult to put together and sustain in companies like those in our study. Businesses implement these programmes mainly for the organizational benefits they expect to reap in the short term, whereas improvement in the health of workers in the longer term is not a priority.
Bilodeau
Angèle
A
Direction de santé publique, Agence de développement de réseaux locaux de services de santé et de services sociaux de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. abilodea@santepub-mtl.qc.ca
Filion
Gilbert
G
Labrie
Louise
L
Bouteiller
Dominique
D
Perreault
Michel
M
D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006284:Health Plan Implementation; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D017149:Private Sector / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011634:Public Health; D011792:Quebec