The Health Behaviour of German Outpatient Caregivers in Relation to Their Working Conditions: A Qualitative Study

Natascha Mojtahedzadeh, Elisabeth Rohwer, Felix Alexander Neumann, Albert Nienhaus, Matthias Augustin, Birgit-Christiane Zyriax, Volker Harth and Stefanie Mache
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Natascha Mojtahedzadeh: Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre, Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Seewartenstr. 10, 20459 Hamburg, Germany
Elisabeth Rohwer: Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre, Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Seewartenstr. 10, 20459 Hamburg, Germany
Felix Alexander Neumann: Midwifery Science—Health Services Research and Prevention, Institute for Health Service Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
Albert Nienhaus: Department of Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Public Health, Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Health and Welfare Services (BGW), Pappelallee 33/35/37, 22089 Hamburg, Germany
Matthias Augustin: Institute for Health Service Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), Competence Centre for Health Services Research in Vascular Diseases (CVvasc), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
Birgit-Christiane Zyriax: Midwifery Science—Health Services Research and Prevention, Institute for Health Service Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
Volker Harth: Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre, Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Seewartenstr. 10, 20459 Hamburg, Germany
Stefanie Mache: Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Centre, Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Seewartenstr. 10, 20459 Hamburg, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-33

Abstract: Ongoing demographic change is leading to an increasingly older society and a rising proportion of people in need of care in the German population. Therefore, the professional group of outpatient caregivers is highly relevant. Their work is characterised not only by interacting with patients in a mobile setting but also by working in shifts. Health behaviour under these specific working conditions is crucial for ensuring long-term work ability and performance. Little is known about the health behaviour of German outpatient caregivers and its potential impact on their work. The aims of the study were (1) to examine health behavioural patterns (nutrition, exercise, smoking, regeneration) of outpatient caregivers, (2) to illuminate their personal health-promoting behaviours, and (3) to identify potential work-related factors influencing their health behaviour. Fifteen problem-centred interviews were conducted with outpatient caregivers working in Northern Germany in the period January–April 2020. Interviews were analysed by using qualitative content analysis. Outpatient caregivers reported improvable nutrition and hydration, with simultaneous high coffee consumption, low physical activity, poor regeneration (breaks and sleep quality), and good personal health-promoting behaviour (e.g., back-friendly habits), although the majority were smokers. Barriers to the implementation of health-promoting behaviours were a high perception of stress due to increased workload and time pressure, while aids to better health-promoting behaviour were described as being social support and personal resources. The respondents perceived their working conditions as potentially influencing their health behaviour. On the basis of their descriptions, various practice-relevant strategies were derived. The data explore a potential need for outpatient care services to develop interventions on behavioural and structural levels that can help create healthier working conditions for their employees so these caregivers can adopt better health behaviours.

Keywords: health behaviour; outpatient care; regeneration; nutrition; physical activity; stress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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