Workplace health promotion projects and activities in government organizations in Thailand: A qualitative research

Abstract

Background : Thai Health Promotion Foundation has organized health promotion plans in various settings such as academic institutes, governmental organizations and private organizations. Regarding the governmental organizations, the foundation aims to develop systems, infrastructures and indicators of holistic health promotion for all levels of civil servants. However, the foundation did not know the current situation of health promotion policies, projects and activities in government organizations.

Objective : To explore the current health promotion situation in governmental organizations.

Setting : Governmental organizations.

Research design : Qualitative research.

Methods : This study had 2 parts: quantitative and qualitative sections. The quantitative research was already completed and reported elsewhere. Data analyses showed several organizations with high self-assessment scores. The qualitative research was done by asking heads and personnel regarding their responsibilities for health promotion in these organizations to be key informants in the in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Documents and meeting minutes regarding health promotion were also reviewed. These were done in order to understand more factors determining or related to good health promotion scores.

Study population : Four central organizations, 4 regional organizations, 7 local organizations, and 3 Bangkok Metropolitan districts.

Results : Most government organizations did not have policies and programs for health promotion, but they did have some health promotion projects and activities. Their problems were, namely: having not enough space for health promotion activities especially physical exercises, lack of knowledge, lack of personnel responsible for health, too much workload, not receiving enough policy support, etc. However, most organizations had enough budgets for health promotion activities. Unfortunately, local administrative organizations allocated most of their budget to the infrastructure such as road construction, and not on health and health promotion. Almost all organizations did not evaluate their projects and activities.

Conclusion : After qualitative research data analyses, including results from the first quantitative phase, the authors synthesized some recommendations that seemed appropriate for enhancing health promotion in government organizations.