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One of the big concerns throughout the world is to develop occupational health measures in small-scale enterprises (SSEs).
SSEs defined as having fewer than 50 workers, account for 97.2% of all enterprises in Japan. Workers at SSEs are believed to be experiencing a worsening of health problems, moreover, they are exempt by law from the requirement of appointing an occupational health physician to carry out occupational and environmental health consultations. We conducted a longitudinal intervention study in order to develop and spiral-up appropriate measures for workers at SSEs in Japan. Aims: This study developed the facilitative approach and evaluated the effectiveness of a longitudinal participatory approach for SSEs in Japan.
Methods
An intervention study was performed for 2 years at 16 volunteer SSEs from 2008 to 2010 in Ibaraki city in Japan. The procedure of support SSE workers was clarified by action research. The effectiveness was evaluated from comparison of the self-administered questionnaires for pre and post intervention by using Student t test.
Ethical conditions: This research was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Japan Labour Health Welfare Organization.
Results
We identified the facilitative approach of the participatory activity, categorizing them into eleven steps. Moreover the approach in the second year is categorized 8 steps for spiral up. The questionnaire indicated effectiveness of spiral-up. It was suggested for the control of work and the superior's support to be improved through the participatory approach, to lead to the rise of work engagement, and to have related to the improvement of the performance of work furthermore. For lifestyle, the decreasing tendency of the smoking number was indicated.
Discussion
Facilitation of the workers’ initiative could create good communication among workers and healthy workplace climate, to lead to the rise of work engagement and improvement of the work performance.