Developing ‘CLI@WORK’ to improve blue-collar shift workers’ health with adapted intervention mapping

Background

Overweight is a risk factor for employee health and their sustainable employability (SE). Blue-collar and shift work are positively associated with overweight, obesity and related health problems. A healthy lifestyle can mitigate these risks. Multifactorial interventions targeting both the employees’ lifestyle and the work environment are expected to be effective. In the Netherlands, primary care patients with overweight are referred to Combined Lifestyle Interventions (CLI), but this is uncommon in occupational health and the standard CLI does not align with the needs of blue-collar shift workers. Therefore, the evidence-based CLI was adapted for this group.

Methods

Intervention Mapping (IM) for evidence based interventions (EBI), incorporating an action research approach, was used to systematically adapt CLI to a workplace setting. Step 1, needs assessment, included a literature review, questionnaires and 20 focus group interviews with employees (n = 23), management (n = 13), occupational health professionals (n = 12) and lifestyle coaches (n = 7). Based on these findings, change objectives were defined, and theoretical methods selected. In step 3, fit was assessed and adaptations and practical applications were planned.

Results

Based on the needs assessment results, CLI@WORK was developed and tailored around three elements: - Intake and referral via occupational health monitoring, - Improved accessibility, adapted group sessions and peer-only groups, - Lifestyle Supporting Work Environment involving HR and supervisors,Supporting tools included a flyer targeting key determinants such as attitudes, beliefs, risk perceptions and subjective norms of employees, a peer video, a training and intervision sessions to improve knowledge and self-efficacy of lifestyle coaches.

Conclusions

An adapted version of IM proved a useful method for developing CLI@WORK. Implementation is expected to reduce overweight and improve the health and SE of these workers.

Key messages

• Regular health promotion programmes such as CLI do not align with the needs of blue-collar shift workers.

• CLI@WORK is expected to reduce weight and improve the health and SE of blu-collar shift workers.