<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This article discusses health education and communication in Occupational Health Services (OHS) based on a questionnaire study conducted in Finnish OHS in 2005. The study focused on educational activities carried out by OH professionals and directed at individual employees, work communities and groups, and representatives of client organisations. The questionnaire was sent to 1132 OH professionals - physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists - working in 130 OHS units, and representing different OHS providers in Finland. 635 respondents (162 physicians, 342 nurses, 96 physiotherapists, 35 psychologists) returned the questionnaire. The overall response rate was 58 %. There were statistically significant differences in educational activities by different professional groups; differences were also related to the length of working experience in OHS. For all OH professionals, individual employees were the primary clients of health education and communication. Education was less often directed at work communities and representatives of client organisations. However, many issues related to health and well-being at work are not within the reach of individual employees. The impact of health education would be more evident if it also reached those organisational stakeholders with discretion in decision-making. Furthermore, OH personnel should pay attention to the social aspect of learning and work more with groups and work communities.</p></abstract>

This article discusses health education and communication in Occupational Health Services (OHS) based on a questionnaire study conducted in Finnish OHS in 2005. The study focused on educational activities carried out by OH professionals and directed at individual employees, work communities and groups, and representatives of client organisations. The questionnaire was sent to 1132 OH professionals - physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and psychologists - working in 130 OHS units, and representing different OHS providers in Finland. 635 respondents (162 physicians, 342 nurses, 96 physiotherapists, 35 psychologists) returned the questionnaire. The overall response rate was 58 %. There were statistically significant differences in educational activities by different professional groups; differences were also related to the length of working experience in OHS. For all OH professionals, individual employees were the primary clients of health education and communication. Education was less often directed at work communities and representatives of client organisations. However, many issues related to health and well-being at work are not within the reach of individual employees. The impact of health education would be more evident if it also reached those organisational stakeholders with discretion in decision-making. Furthermore, OH personnel should pay attention to the social aspect of learning and work more with groups and work communities.

Health Education and Communication in Occupational Health Services in Finland

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology

{"article-title":"Health Education and Communication in Occupational Health Services in Finland"}

This article discusses health education and communication in Occupational Health Services (OHS) based on a questionnaire study conducted in Finnish OHS in...

Health Education and Communication in Occupational Health Services in Finland

Published Online: Sep 16, 2008

Page range: 171 - 181

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-59-2008-1888

Keywords
liječnici, medicinske sestre, psiholozi, savjetovanje

This content is open access.

Health Education and Communication in Occupational Health Services in Finland

Published Online: Sep 16, 2008

Page range: 171 - 181

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-59-2008-1888

Keywordsliječnici, medicinske sestre, psiholozi, savjetovanje

This content is open access.

Keywords
liječnici, medicinske sestre, psiholozi, savjetovanje