[Workplace health promotion in network structures - the Erlangen Model of "enterprises in motion"].
BACKGROUND
Evidence-based health promotion and prevention are the only means to meet the future economic challenges in health care. Since preventive measures do not penetrate all strata of society alike, the workplace is a probable platform for health education and promotion. Against this background, the network of the 'Erlangen Model' attempts to include health promotion as an integral part of enterprise policy; the present paper evaluates preliminary results of this programme.


METHODS
Questionnaires and interviews were conducted among employees of 6 companies and authorities forming the network "Agitating Enterprises". A total of 1,748 subjects were included and answered questions about their professional and health-related situation, physical activities, and expectations in connection with the programme.


RESULTS
Almost half of the subjects (48%) had no intention to participate in one of the programme's courses. Most frequent mentioned reasons in favour of participation were the expectation of positive effects on general health (75%), well-being (78%), team work (32%) and enjoyment of sports (70%). Factor analysis extracted 5 dimensions of occupational burden out of over 50 items: "Co-operation with colleagues and superiors", "safety at work", "workflow organisation", "individual complaints" and "workplace design". Between participating companies the expression of these dimensions varied substantially; employees of the university hospital in general reported a higher-than-average burden. In contrast, differences regarding the health status, satisfaction with employment conditions and individual activity scores were minor.


CONCLUSIONS
Health promotion at the workplace is meaningful, especially for health-care employees. Differential analyses of reasons for non-participation may reveal starting points for an improvement of attendance in health-promotion programmes.
Broding
H C
HC
Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen. broding@bgfa.de
Kiesel
J
J
Lederer
P
P
Kötter
R
R
Drexler
H
H
D019058:Community Networks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*