title: Process Evaluation of a Workers' Health Surveillance Program for Meat Processing Workers.
abstract: Objective To evaluate the implementation process of a workers' health surveillance (WHS) program in a Dutch meat processing company. Methods Workers from five plants were eligible to participate in the WHS program. The program consisted of four evaluative components and an intervention component. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to evaluate seven process aspects. Data were gathered by interviews with stakeholders, participant questionnaires, and from registries of the company and occupational health service. Results Two recruitment strategies were used: open invitation or automatic participation. Of the 986 eligible workers, 305 participated in the program. Average reach was 53 %. Two out of five program components could not be assessed on dose delivered, dose received and fidelity. If components were assessable, 85-100 % of the components was delivered, 66-100 % of the components was received by participants, and fidelity was 100 %. Participants were satisfied with the WHS program (mean score 7.6). Contextual factors that facilitated implementation were among others societal developments and management support. Factors that formed barriers were program novelty and delayed follow-up. Conclusion The WHS program was well received by participants. Not all participants were offered the same number of program components, and not all components were performed according to protocol. Deviation from protocol is an indication of program failure and may affect program effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands. b.j.van.holland@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Berry J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1293-2900
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: van Holland
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Community and Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brouwer
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Institute for Health Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michiel R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Michiel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reneman
authors.affiliation: Expertise Center of Health, Social Care and Technology, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Enschede, The Netherlands.|Groningen Spine Center, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Remko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D016272:Occupational Health; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Implementation research; Meatpacking industry; Qualitative; Quantitative; Sustainable employability