Effectiveness of Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) interventions in university employees: a scoping review

Alessia Moroni; Raffaella Degan; Barbara Martin; Veronica Sciannameo; Paola Berchialla; Giorgio Gilli; Margherita Micheletti Cremasco

doi:10.1093/heapro/daac171

Effectiveness of Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) interventions in university employees: a scoping review

Health Promot Int. 2023 Feb 1;38(1):daac171. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daac171.

Authors

Alessia Moroni^{1

2}, Raffaella Degan², Barbara Martin³, Veronica Sciannameo⁴, Paola Berchialla⁴, Giorgio Gilli⁵, Margherita Micheletti Cremasco¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, 10123 Torino, Italy.
² Suism University Service Center in Hygiene and Sport Sciences, University of Torino, Via Marenco 32, 10126 Torino, Italy.
³ Research and Third Mission Area, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
⁴ Centre for Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Italy.
⁵ Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy.

PMID: 36617296
DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daac171

Abstract

Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) interventions proved to be effective in several workplace contexts. Currently, the effectiveness of such interventions in the academic workplace is lacking, albeit evidence suggests similar patterns to those occurring in other workplace sectors. The aim of this study was to review WHP interventions in the university workplace that led to improve health- and work-related outcomes. Articles were selected using Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, PsycInfo, Cinhal and FSTA, using search strings focused on health- and/or work-related outcomes and involving University WHP interventions published between January 2010 and July 2021. The majority of the 12 studies selected reported positive results in their individuality, especially regarding health-related outcomes [biological such as weight loss, physical activity, mental health and lifestyle habits] and work-related outcomes concerning improvements either for the employee or for the working system. Studies on economic advantage and Return on Investment were limited and reported contrasting results. In conclusion, we have highlighted how the studies on effectiveness of WHP interventions in the university context are few and heterogeneous and need to be encouraged further research in order to build specific guidelines that are effective.

Keywords: Workplace Health Promotion; employees; lifestyle habits; university.

Plain language summary

Interventions concerning prevention promotion in the workplace, involving activities targeting lifestyle habits, nutrition and/or physical activity as well as general wellbeing, are growing and becoming more common due to their benefits on health and work outcomes. The aim of this review was to investigate the effectiveness of such interventions in the university workplace context to help create directed guidelines for their correct implementation in this setting. Although it was difficult to draw peculiar conclusions due to the heterogeneity of the programs described in the studies, the overall positivity of the results and the perspective university environment, outlook that the implementation of multicomponent and multilevel interventions would improve employees’ wellness and favor universities’ welfare.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Exercise
Health Promotion* / methods
Humans
Life Style
Occupational Health*
Universities
Workplace