Bieleman A1, Filart M1, Hodes H2, Kamphuis PJ3, van Dijk H4
1Saxion University of Applied Sciences, School of Health, Enschede, Netherlands, 2Fysik, Haaksbergen, Netherlands, 3Fitzz-all, Deventer, Netherlands, 4NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Serious Gaming, Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Background: Improving the health of workers is a relevant issue for physical therapists who offer preventative services. Companies put increasing effort in maintaining and promoting the work ability of employees. Health related life style is a major component of work ability, but changing life style and behavior (e.g. to be more physically active) is difficult. Only giving health information is not effective, challenging workers with an appeal to their motivation, based on dialogue and using gaming principles, appears a promising approach to develop effective interventions.
Purpose: To develop tailored life-style interventions for a group of production workers and a group of health care workers, that contribute to sustained work ability.
To describe and evaluate the interactive development process.
Methods: As main method the Design Thinking approach was used. In a series of workshops participants went through the phases Empathise - Define - Ideate - Prototype, focusing on life style changes. Participants were Human Resource managers of medium size companies, physical therapists, mental health consultants, students and professors in Occupational Health and Serious Gaming. In the workshops the target groups of workers were characterized as different personas, within their company context (C); mechanisms (M) of behavior change were defined (e.g. attitude; action planning; nudging); the target outcomes (O) were chosen (e.g. physical activity; relaxation). Based on these ingredients and in interaction with the workers, prototypes of Interventions (I) were developed and tested. The overall CIMO steps were evaluated.
Results: For the production workers (mainly older males), a board game was developed to challenge actions aiming at physical activity, smoking, food and alcohol. Small, achievable exercises were defined, like taking the bike instead of the car or not drinking alcohol during the week. The game was meant to be played together with colleagues; the company provided rewards for complying employees.
For the health care workers (mainly individually working female district nurses) sharing experiences with colleagues was the primary goal. A set of 'luck cards' was made, meant to stimulate communication within the team, with a focus on well-being in the job. Participants reflected on the cards and were invited to add their own new texts.
Both groups of workers reported positive as well as critical feedback on the prototype interventions that were developed. This feedback was used as input to the workshops, for new idea generation and improvement of prototypes.
Conclusion(s): The Design Thinking method appeared to be an approach that enables quick generation of ingredients and ideas for the development of lifestyle interventions for specific target groups. The CIMO steps were useful to guide the process, leading to different specific interventions for the two participating companies. The production of realistic prototypes with acceptable product characteristics (appearance, functionality) demands attention. Participating workers were moderately enthusiastic about the interventions.
Implications: This interactive method to develop tailored interventions for and with companies and their workers offers physical therapists innovative opportunities. New, preventive interventions which involve the client from the start, may effectively contribute to health promotion and work ability. Students should be introduced into these methods.
Keywords: design thinking, life style
Funding acknowledgements: Unfunded project.
Purpose: To develop tailored life-style interventions for a group of production workers and a group of health care workers, that contribute to sustained work ability.
To describe and evaluate the interactive development process.
Methods: As main method the Design Thinking approach was used. In a series of workshops participants went through the phases Empathise - Define - Ideate - Prototype, focusing on life style changes. Participants were Human Resource managers of medium size companies, physical therapists, mental health consultants, students and professors in Occupational Health and Serious Gaming. In the workshops the target groups of workers were characterized as different personas, within their company context (C); mechanisms (M) of behavior change were defined (e.g. attitude; action planning; nudging); the target outcomes (O) were chosen (e.g. physical activity; relaxation). Based on these ingredients and in interaction with the workers, prototypes of Interventions (I) were developed and tested. The overall CIMO steps were evaluated.
Results: For the production workers (mainly older males), a board game was developed to challenge actions aiming at physical activity, smoking, food and alcohol. Small, achievable exercises were defined, like taking the bike instead of the car or not drinking alcohol during the week. The game was meant to be played together with colleagues; the company provided rewards for complying employees.
For the health care workers (mainly individually working female district nurses) sharing experiences with colleagues was the primary goal. A set of 'luck cards' was made, meant to stimulate communication within the team, with a focus on well-being in the job. Participants reflected on the cards and were invited to add their own new texts.
Both groups of workers reported positive as well as critical feedback on the prototype interventions that were developed. This feedback was used as input to the workshops, for new idea generation and improvement of prototypes.
Conclusion(s): The Design Thinking method appeared to be an approach that enables quick generation of ingredients and ideas for the development of lifestyle interventions for specific target groups. The CIMO steps were useful to guide the process, leading to different specific interventions for the two participating companies. The production of realistic prototypes with acceptable product characteristics (appearance, functionality) demands attention. Participating workers were moderately enthusiastic about the interventions.
Implications: This interactive method to develop tailored interventions for and with companies and their workers offers physical therapists innovative opportunities. New, preventive interventions which involve the client from the start, may effectively contribute to health promotion and work ability. Students should be introduced into these methods.
Keywords: design thinking, life style
Funding acknowledgements: Unfunded project.
Topic: Occupational health & ergonomics; Education: methods of teaching & learning; Occupational health & ergonomics
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: Saxion Universities
Ethics committee: -
Reason not required: The project concerns new developments in practice , not research on people
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
