Occupational health management interventions. Evaluation of a seminar series for shift workers

Background. Shift workers are an important target group for occupational health promotion as they have to be able to cope with special health strains. The evaluation of an occupational health promotion intervention within the implementation of an occupational health management program in a German industrial company analyses the effects of an employee-seminar concerning the handling of the burden of shift work on different health issues. Methods. Applying a longitudinal study design and standardized questionnaires, 59 shift workers were surveyed prior to and following the seminar series. They were asked about perceived health-related self-leadership, quality of life, and perceived quality of sleep. Results. Following the seminar series, participants behaved healthier, their perceived quality of sleep was increased, and they felt higher vitality. Furthermore self-efficacy improved. The participation did not change quality of life, but value of health declined. Conclusion. Targeted employee-seminars are appropriate to raise employees' awareness of dealing with specific strains of shift work. Nevertheless, the intervention could not achieve broader effects for employees' health. It remains unclear whether this result is due to the behavioral approach or the period of evaluation. Therefore, further research should verify the effects of an additional inclusion of environmental prevention on workplaces by long-term reduction in shift work-related strains.