The Impact of Occupational Health Programs on the Well-being of Employees within Healthcare Environments

Abstract

The health and safety of healthcare workers is very important because they help people get care and keep everyone healthy. Occupational health programs (OHPs) in hospital settings are meant to protect and improve the mental and physical health of the people who work there. We used a mix of quantitative and qualitative research methods in our study. We combined quantitative data from health exams and staff polls with qualitative data from focus groups and interviews. We chose more than 1,000 healthcare workers from a number of different organisations. These workers included nurses, doctors, and support staff. These schools had different amounts of OHP application, from programs that had been running for a long time to ones that had just started. Some of the most important parts of the OHPs that were looked at were physical exams, mental health support, disease prevention programs, and health promotion activities like workout programs and food counselling. Our review was based on a number of important measures of well-being, including the number of physical problems, levels of worry and sadness, job happiness, absence rates, and general work success. Results from quantitative studies showed that schools with strong OHPs had 25% fewer joint problems and a big drop in stress-related symptoms compared to those with weak or no health programs. When workers were in places with full OHPs, they were happier with their jobs and did a better job overall. Also, absenteeism was much lower in these groups, which suggests that successful worker health measures are linked to fewer absences from work. Qualitative data confirmed these results; workers often said that easier access to health tools and support was a big reason why they were happy with their jobs and healthy overall. A lot of them said they felt respected by their bosses and better able to deal with the stress and physical demands of their jobs. The study also examined issues such insufficient funds, staff lack of motivation, and variations in program quality that could arise when OHPs are implemented and maintained under use. Customised OHPs that satisfy employee demands, foster a culture that prioritises employee health, and allow healthcare facilities to continuously monitor program effectiveness will help them to change with the workforce and the surroundings.