Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on sleep in brain health

LIVE: Thursday 2nd May 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)

Quality sleep is essential for health. But what happens to our brains when sleep patterns are disturbed? Join our experts to explore the interplay between sleep disruption and neurological diseases, and the questions that you need to be asking your patients to help you prevent the harmful effects of sleep deprivation.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Research article

Effectiveness of an intervention at construction worksites on work engagement, social support, physical workload, and need for recovery: results from a cluster randomized controlled trial

Authors: Karen M Oude Hengel, Birgitte M Blatter, Catelijne I Joling, Allard J van der Beek, Paulien M Bongers

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2012

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

To prolong sustainable healthy working lives of construction workers, a worksite prevention program was developed which aimed to improve the health and work ability of construction workers. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of this program on social support at work, work engagement, physical workload and need for recovery.

Methods

Fifteen departments from six construction companies participated in this cluster randomized controlled trial; 8 departments (n=171 workers) were randomized to an intervention group and 7 departments (n=122 workers) to a control group. The intervention consisted of two individual training sessions of a physical therapist to lower the physical workload, a Rest-Break tool to improve the balance between work and recovery, and two empowerment training sessions to increase the influence of the construction workers at the worksite. Data on work engagement, social support at work, physical workload, and need for recovery were collected at baseline, and at three, six and 12 months after the start of the intervention using questionnaires.

Results

No differences between the intervention and control group were found for work engagement, social support at work, and need for recovery. At 6 months follow-up, the control group reported a small but statistically significant reduction of physical workload.

Conclusion

The intervention neither improved social support nor work engagement, nor was it effective in reducing the physical workload and need for recovery among construction workers.

Trial registration

NTR1278
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Eurostat: Europe in Figures; Eurostat yearbook 2011, chapter 5 labour market. 2011, Luxembourg: Eurostat European Commission
2.
Beereboom HJA, Blomsma G, Corten IW, Muchall S: De bouwarbeidsmarkt in de periode 2005–2010 [The labour market of the construction industry in the period 2005–2010]. 2005, Amsterdam: Economisch Insituut voor de bouw
3.
Sijpersma R: De oudere werknemer in de bouw. [The older worker in the construction industry]. 2003, Amsterdam: Economisch Insituut voor de bouw
4.
Oude Hengel KM, Blatter BM, Geuskens GA, Koppes LLJ, Bongers PM: Factors associated with the ability and willingness to continue working until the age of 65 in construction workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2011, 85 (7): 783-90.CrossRefPubMed
5.
Szubert Z, Sobala W: Current determinants of early retirement among blue collar workers in Poland. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2005, 18 (2): 177-184.PubMed
6.
Lund T, Iversen L, Poulsen KB: Work environment factors, health, lifestyle and marital status as predictors of job change and early retirement in physically heavy occupations. Am J Ind Med. 2001, 40 (2): 161-169. 10.1002/ajim.1084.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Bartholomew LK, Parcel GS, Kok G, Gottlieb NH: Planning health programs: an intervention mapping approach. 2006, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass
8.
Shacklock K, Brunetto Y: A model of older workers' intentions to continue working. Pers Rev. 2011, 40 (2): 252-274. 10.1108/00483481111106110.CrossRef
9.
Oude Hengel KM, Joling CI, Proper KI, Van der Molen HF, Bongers PM: Using intervention mapping to develop a worksite prevention program for construction workers. Am J Health Promot. 2010, 26: e1-e10.CrossRef
10.
Oude Hengel KM, Joling CI, Proper KI, Blatter BM, Bongers PM: A worksite prevention program for construction workers: design of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Publ Health. 2010, 10: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-336.
11.
Oude Hengel KM, Blatter BM, Van der Molen HF, Joling CI, Proper KI, Bongers PM, Van der Beek AJ: Meeting the challenges of implementing an intervention to promote work ability and health-related quality of life at construction worksites: a process evaluation. J Occup Environ Med. 2011, 53 (12): 1483-1491. 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3182398e03.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Aaronson NK, Muller M, Cohen PD, Essink-Bot ML, Fekkes M, Sanderman R, Sprangers MA, Te Velde A, Verrips E: Translation, validation, and norming of the Dutch language version of the SF-36 Health Survey in community and chronic disease populations. J Clin Epidemiol. 1998, 51 (11): 1055-1068. 10.1016/S0895-4356(98)00097-3.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Beaton DE, Hogg-Johnson S, Bombardier C: Evaluating changes in health status: reliability and responsiveness of five generic health status measures in workers with musculoskeletal disorders. J Clin Epidemiol. 1997, 50 (1): 79-93. 10.1016/S0895-4356(96)00296-X.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Simpson JM, Klar N, Donnor A: Accounting for cluster randomization: a review of primary prevention trials, 1990 through 1993. Am J Public Health. 1995, 85 (10): 1378-1383. 10.2105/AJPH.85.10.1378.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
15.
Cohen J: Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. 1988, New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
16.
Karasek R, Brisson C, Kawakami N, Houtman I, Bongers P, Amick B: The Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ): an instrument for internationally comparative assessments of psychosocial job characteristics. J Occup Health Psychol. 1998, 3 (4): 322-355.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Karasek RA: Job content questionnaire and user's guide. 1985, Lowel: University of Massachusetts Lowell, Department of Work Environment
18.
Schaufeli WB, Bakker AB, Salanova M: The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire: a cross-national study. Educ Psychol Meas. 2006, 66 (4): 701-716. 10.1177/0013164405282471.CrossRef
19.
Schaufeli W, Bakker A: Utrecht work engagement scale. 2003, Utecht: Occupational Health Psychology Unit
20.
Van Veldhoven M, Broersen S: Measurement quality and validity of the " need for recovery scale". Occup Environ Med. 2003, 60: i3-i9. 10.1136/oem.60.suppl_1.i3.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
21.
Van Veldhoven M, Meijman TF, Broersen JPJ, Fortuin RJ: Handleiding VBBA [User's guide VBBA]. 2002, Amsterdam: SKB Vragenlijst Services
22.
Van Amelsvoort LG, Jansen NW, Swaen GM, Van den Brandt PA, Kant I: Direction of shift rotation among three-shift workers in relation to psychological health and work-family conflict. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2004, 30 (2): 149-156. 10.5271/sjweh.772.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Groeneveld IF, Proper KI, Van der Beek AJ, Van Mechelen W: Sustained body weight reduction by an individual-based lifestyle intervention for workers in the construction industry at risk for cardiovascular disease: results of a randomized controlled trial. Prev Med. 2010, 51 (3–4): 240-246.CrossRefPubMed
24.
Ludewig PM, Borstad JD: Effects of a home exercise programme on shoulder pain and functional status in construction workers. Occup Environ Med. 2003, 60 (11): 841-849. 10.1136/oem.60.11.841.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
25.
Luijsterburg PA, Bongers PM, de Vroome EM: A new bricklayers' method for use in the construction industry. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2005, 31 (5): 394-400. 10.5271/sjweh.923.CrossRefPubMed
26.
IJzelenberg W, Molenaar D, Burdorf A: Different risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints and musculoskeletal sickness absence. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2004, 30 (1): 56-63. 10.5271/sjweh.765.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Morken T, Riise T, Moen B, Hauge SH, Holien S, Langedrag A, Pedersen S, Saue IL, Seljebo GM, Thoppil V: Low back pain and widespread pain predict sickness absence among industrial workers. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2003, 4: 21-10.1186/1471-2474-4-21.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
28.
Van der Molen HF, Sluiter JK, Hulshof CT, Vink P, Frings-Dresen MH: Effectiveness of measures and implementation strategies in reducing physical work demands due to manual handling at work. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2005, 31 (Suppl 2): 75-87.PubMed
29.
Glasgow RE, McCaul KD, Fisher KJ: Participation in worksite health promotion: a critique of the literature and recommendations for future practice. Health Educ Q. 1993, 20 (3): 391-408. 10.1177/109019819302000309.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Van Berkel J, Proper KI, Boot CR, Bongers PM, Van der Beek AJ: Mindful "Vitality in Practice": an intervention to improve the work engagement and energy balance among workers; the development and design of the randomised controlled trial. BMC Publ Health. 2011, 11: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-736.
31.
32.
Hodgins M, Battel-Kirk B, Asgeirsdottir AG: Building capacity in workplace health promotion: the case of the healthy together e-learning project. Glob Health Promot. 2010, 17 (1): 60-68. 10.1177/1757975909356629.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Effectiveness of an intervention at construction worksites on work engagement, social support, physical workload, and need for recovery: results from a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors
Karen M Oude Hengel
Birgitte M Blatter
Catelijne I Joling
Allard J van der Beek
Paulien M Bongers
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2012
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-1008

Other articles of this Issue 1/2012

BMC Public Health 1/2012 Go to the issue

Research article

Physical environmental factors related to walking and cycling in older adults: the Belgian aging studies

Correspondence

A Kenyan newspaper analysis of the limitations of voluntary medical male circumcision and the importance of sustained condom use

Research article

Determinants of circumcision and willingness to be circumcised by Rwandan men, 2010

Research article

Recruitment into diabetes prevention programs: what is the impact of errors in self-reported measures of obesity?

Research article

Barriers to pandemic influenza vaccination and uptake of seasonal influenza vaccine in the post-pandemic season in Germany

Research article

Prevalence of cardiovascular disease and risk factors in a rural district of Beijing, China: a population-based survey of 58,308 residents