EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMMES: THEIR RATIONALE, BASIC PRINCIPLES AND ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

This paper presents background information about workplace programmes that provideneeded personal and social services to employees. These programmes are commonly referredto as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs). The paper deals with the theoreticalbackground to aid an understanding of what these programmes are about. The discussionsrevolve around three aspects: reasons why organisations establish these programmes; theirunderlying principles and their essential elements; and the programme services, functions andstructure. In the first section, which focuses on the reasons for programme establishment, ashort list is provided of the commonly given reasons why organisations establish suchprogrammes to assist their employees. The second section focuses on programmes’ basicprinciples, while the third discusses twelve essential elements of these programmes. Thepaper ends with a descriptive illustration of programme development within a highereducation institution in which the author participated. This takes the form of tabularpresentations of programme functions and services as well as its structure. As the paper isdirected at the social work fraternity, it is important to begin by defining and explaining therelationship between workplace programmes and social work, through the route of elucidatingoccupational social work

SUBSTANCE ABUSE AT THE WORK PLACE: THE PROBLEM AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Personal problems, including substance abuse, often impinge on employees’ job performanceand therefore productivity. This paper discusses substance abuse as an example of anemployee problem at the workplace that can be addressed through services such as employeeassistance programmes (EAPs). The use and abuse of substances occur for a number ofreasons, including misguided ones, such as a person trying to “forget problems” at home,socially or at work. In relation to work, the effects are enormous, such as employeeabsenteeism, workplace injuries, as well as damage to expensive workplace equipment andproperty. Aspects discussed in the paper include factors that help “enable” the abuse of suchsubstances within the work environment, factors that indicate deteriorating employee workperformance, as well as possible ways to deal with the problem at the workplace. The paperconcludes with a discussion of possible workplace policies and programmatic solutions onhow to deal with the problem

The Relationship between Socioeconomic Status, Family Income, and Measures of Muscular and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Colombian Schoolchildren

Objective To determine the associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and physical fitness in a sample of Colombian youth. Study design Prueba SER is cross-sectional survey of schoolchildren in Bogota, Colombia. Mass, stature, muscular fitness (standing long-jump, handgrip), and cardiorespiratory fitness (20-m shuttle run) were measured in 52 187 schoolchildren 14-16 years of age. Area-level SES was categorized from 1 (very low) to 4 (high) and parent-reported family income was categorized as low, middle, or high. Results Converting measures into z scores showed stature, muscular, and cardiorespiratory fitness were significantly (z = 0.3-0.7) below European values. Children in the mid- and high SES groups jumped significantly further than groups with very low SES. Differences were independent of sex but became nonsignificant when adjusted for anthropometric differences. Participants in the mid-SES and high-SES groups had better handgrip scores when adjusted for body dimension. There were, however, no significant between-group differences in cardiorespiratory fitness, which was strongly clustered by school and significantly greater in students from private schools. Conclusions Area-level SES is associated with measures of muscular fitness in Colombian schoolchildren. These associations were largely explained by the large differences in body dimensions observed between SES groups. When area-level SES is considered, there was no evidence that family income influenced fitness. The clustering of outcomes reaffirms the potential importance of schools and area-level factors in promoting fitness through opportunities for physical activity. Interventions implemented in schools, can improve academic attainment; a factor likely to be important in promoting the social mobility of children from poorer families

Exercise-referral scheme to promote physical activity among hypertensive patients: design of a cluster randomized trial in the Primary Health Care Units of Mexico’s Social Security System

BACKGROUND: Although the benefits of physical activity (PA) on to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases are well known, strategies to help increase the levels of PA among different populations are limited. Exercise-referral schemes have emerged as one effective approach to promote PA; however, there is uncertainty about the feasibility and effectiveness of these schemes in settings outside high-income countries. This study will examine the effectiveness of a scheme to refer hypertensive patients identified in Primary Health Care facilities (PHCU) of the Mexican social security institution to a group PA program offered in the same institution. METHODS AND DESIGN: We will describe the methods of a cluster randomized trial study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an exercise referral scheme to increasing physical activity in hypertensive patients compared to a non-referral scheme. Four PHCU were selected for the study; the PHCU will take part as the unit of randomization and sedentary hypertensive patients as the unit of assessment. 2 PHCU of control group (GC) will provide information to hypertensive patients about physical activity benefits and ways to increase it safely. 2 PHCU of intervention group (IG) will refer patients to sports facilities at the same institution, to follow a group-based PA program developed to increase the PA levels with a designed based on the Transtheoretical Model and Social Cognitive Theory. To evaluate the effects of the intervention as well as short-term maintenance of the intervention’s effects, PA will be assessed at baseline, at 24 and 32 weeks of follow-up. The main outcome will be the difference before and after intervention in the percentage of participants meeting recommended levels of PA between and within intervention and control groups. PA will be measured through self-report and with objective measure by accelerometer. DISCUSSION: This study will allow us to evaluate a multidisciplinary effort to link the primary care and community-based areas of the same health care system. Our findings will provide important information about the feasibility and effectiveness of an exercise-referral scheme and will be useful for decision-making about the implementation of strategies for increasing PA among hypertensive and other clinical populations in Mexico and Latin America. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01910935. Date of registration: 07/05/2013

Predictors of physical activity and barriers to exercise in nursing and medical students

Aims To investigate physical activity levels of nursing and medicine students; examine predictors of physical activity level; and examine the most influential benefits and barriers to exercise. Background Healthcare professionals have low levels of physical activity, which increases their health risk and may influence their health promotion practices with patients. Design We surveyed 361 nursing (n=193) and medicine (n=168) students studying at a UK medical school. Methods Questionnaire survey, active over 12 months in 2014-2015. Measures included physical activity level, benefits and barriers to exercise, social support, perceived stress and self-efficacy for exercise. Results Many nursing and medicine students did not achieve recommended levels of physical activity (nursing: 48%; medicine: 38%). Perceived benefits of exercise were health-related, with medicine students identifying additional benefits for stress-relief. Most notable barriers to exercise were: lack of time, facilities having inconvenient schedules and exercise not fitting around study or placement schedules. Nursing students were less active than medicine students; they perceived fewer benefits and more barriers to exercise and reported lower social support for exercise. Physical activity of nursing and medicine students was best predicted by self-efficacy and social support, explaining 35% of the variance. Conclusion Physical activity should be promoted in nursing and medicine students. Interventions should aim to build self-efficacy for exercise and increase social support. Interventions should be developed that are targeted specifically to shift-working frontline care staff, to reduce schedule-related barriers to exercise and increase accessibility to workplace health and wellbeing initiatives

Cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with hard and light intensity physical activity but not time spent sedentary in 10–14 year old schoolchildren: the HAPPY study

Sedentary behaviour is a major risk factor for developing chronic diseases and is associated with low cardiorespiratory fitness in adults. It remains unclear how sedentary behaviour and different physical activity subcomponents are related to cardiorespiratory fitness in children. The purpose of this study was to assess how sedentary behaviour and different physical activity subcomponents are associated with 10–14 year-old schoolchildren's cardiorespiratory fitness

Physiotherapy and Physical Activity: A cross-sectional survey exploring physical activity promotion, knowledge of physical activity guidelines and the physical activity habits of UK physiotherapists.

Objective: Physical inactivity is a public health priority and embedding promotion of physical activity (PA) within healthcare systems is an important lever for change. Many factors influence PA promotion in routine healthcare practice, these include the PA habits of healthcare professionals and also their knowledge of the PA guidelines. Little is known about the extent to which PA is currently promoted in physiotherapy practice or the factors that influence it. Methods: Following ethical approval a cross-sectional survey of UK physiotherapists was conducted. Findings were analysed and reported in accordance with STROBE guidelines. Results: There were 522 respondents, 514 of whom were physiotherapists. Seventy seven percent of respondents routinely discussed PA with patients and 68% routinely delivered Brief Interventions. Assessment of PA status was not routine practice neither was signposting to further sources of PA support. Only 16% of respondents correctly answered questions about the content of the PA guidelines. Only 38% of respondents met current PA recommendations. Clinicians' PA levels were not associated with PA promotion activity. Conclusion: Despite the promising finding that some form of PA promotion is integrated into most respondents' practice, we report a poor understanding of Brief Interventions and poor knowledge of the PA guidelines. Additionally, the majority of respondents were not sufficiently active to meet current PA recommendations

Características de programas de atividade física na atenção básica de saúde do Brasil

The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of programs that promote physical activity in the public primary care system by region of Brazil, subject to the presence or absence of multidisciplinary primary care teams (NASF). We conducted a cross sectional and population-based telephone survey of the health unit coordinators from 1,251 health care units. Coordinators were asked about the presence and characteristics of physical activity programs. Four out of ten health units reported having a physical activity intervention program, the most common involving walking groups. Most of the activities were performed in the morning, once or twice a week, and in sessions of 30 minutes or more. Physical education professionals were primarily responsible for directing the activities. Interventions occurred in the health unit itself or in adjacent community spaces. In general, these characteristics were similar between units with or without NASF, but varied substantially across regions. These findings will guide future physical activity policies and programs within primary care in Brazil.El objetivo fue describir las características de los programas de actividad física en atención primaria, de acuerdo con el Centro de Apoyo a la Salud de la Familia (NASF) y las regiones de Brasil. Se realizó una encuesta transversal telefónica con 1.251 coordinadores de las unidades de salud. Se preguntó a los coordinadores acerca de la presencia y características de intervenciones de actividad física en funcionamiento. Cuatro de cada diez centros de salud reportaron tener una intervención de actividad física, especialmente, grupos de paseo. La mayor parte de las actividades se llevan a cabo por la mañana una vez o dos veces por semana con sesiones de 30 minutos o más. Los profesores de educación física son los principales responsables de la supervisión de las actividades. Los programas se llevan a cabo en la clínica o en otros espacios públicos. Estas características fueron similares en unidades con o sin NASF y mostraron una variación regional en su prevalencia. Estas características permitirán enfocar próximas acciones para promover la actividad física dentro de la atención primaria de salud.O objetivo foi descrever as características dos programas de atividade física na atenção básica de saúde de acordo com a presença de Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família (NASF) no município e por regiões do Brasil. Foi realizado um estudo transversal por inquérito telefônico com 1.251 coordenadores de unidades de saúde. Foi aplicado um questionário sobre presença de intervenções com atividade física e suas características de funcionamento. Quatro em cada dez unidades de saúde relataram ter uma intervenção com atividade física, especialmente grupos de caminhada. A maior parte da atividade é realizada na manhã uma vez ou duas vezes por semana, com sessões de 30 minutos ou mais. Profissionais de educação física são os principais responsáveis por supervisionar as atividades. Os programas ocorrem na unidade de saúde ou outros espaços comunitários. Estas características, de modo geral, foram semelhantes entre unidades com ou sem NASF no município e apresentaram variação entre as regiões. Os resultados desse estudo irão permitir melhor direcionamento das próximas ações de promoção de atividade física na atenção básica de saúde.Universidade Federal de São Carlos Departamento de GerontologiaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Núcleo de Atividade Física, Esporte e SaúdeUniversidade Federal de Pelotas Grupo de Estudos em Epidemiologia da Atividade FísicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionWashington University in St. Louis George Warren Brown School of Social WorkUniversidade de São Paulo Escola de Artes, Ciências e HumanidadesHospital Israelita Albert EinsteinMinistério da SaúdeEmory University Rollins School of Public HealthUNIFESPSciEL

Utilisation of operation theatres at General De La Rey Hospital in the North West Province

BACKGROUND: Operating theatres in any hospital consume a large amount of resources. A well-functioning theatre complex is an important and essential component of a well functioning hospital. . The analysis is based on the socio-economic profile of patients and the time spent in theatre. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study design was used involving a retrospective record review over a one year period (April 2009 to March 2010) was conducted. The variables for the study included, type of operations and their indications, profiles of patients and turn-around time in the theatre. In addition, a comparison between those who had elective and emergency surgery was done with regard to some variables such as profile of patients and turn-around time. The project was initiated after obtaining approval from the head of the department of the North West Provincial Department of Health and University of the Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee (Medical). Confidentiality and anonymity were maintained all the time during collection, capturing, and reporting of the information RESULT: A total of 447 cases were performed during this period including 5.6% (25) elective cases and 94.4% (422) emergency cases. The majority of the operations performed at this Hospital included caesarean section and evacuation of uterus. In addition to that there were other procedures such as laparotomy, labial incision, perineorrhaphy, and dilatation and curettage. The type of procedures (elective or emergency) was significantly associated with ethnicity, employment and medical aid status and referral source of the subjects. The majority of the caesarean sections were performed due to maternal indications. More elective caesarean sections were performed for maternal indications (79%) than fetal indications (21%). There was one maternal complication (ruptured uterus) but no maternal mortality during this period. Whereas all the babies were alive after elective CS, there were seven stillbirths after emergency CS. An average of 110 minutes were spent by patients in theatre and at least 33% of the time was spend on the actual operation although there is no significant difference between elective and emergency patients with regard to time spent in the operating room (p = 0.46). Emergency patients took more time (25 minutes) before they were wheeled to theatre which is an area for improvement. The operating theatre was utilised only 5.9% of available time. This suggests that is opportunity to utilise the operating theatre for other cases. CONCLUSION: This is first formal study performed at a district hospital operating theatre in the North West Province. This study assisted in development of understanding of the function of the operating theatre at the General de la Rey Hospital. The findings of this would assist the hospital management to improve its function such as reduction of latent time for emergency patients and conducting more elective procedures