College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.
Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health - Center for Reducing Health Disparities, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Am J Ind Med. 2024 Aug;67(8):723-731. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23617. Epub 2024 May 21.
Worker trust in employer-provided occupational health services has not been explored in essential industries, such as meatpacking. The purpose of this study was to describe workplace health culture and trust in the occupational health office and highlight meatpacking workers' experiences with the occupational health office.
Meatpacking workers were surveyed between February 2021 and October 2022. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to explore trust across demographic variables, including workplace health culture. Thematic analysis was used to examine the short-answer qualitative data.
Among workers who completed surveys (n = 731), health culture was rated low (M = 1.3 (0.73); possible range 0-3). Trust in the occupational health office was also rated low (M = 8.2 (5.06); possible range 0-20). Workers' descriptions of interactions with the occupational health office were mostly unfavorable (287 negative opinion units; 97 positive opinion units) and primarily focused on quality of care, communication, the supervisor as gatekeeper to health services, and the prioritization of company interests.
Meatpacking worker health may be improved by building worker trust in the occupational health office. Suggested strategies include enhanced communication, protection of confidentiality, prioritization of worker well-being, and promotion of a stronger health culture in plants and throughout the industry. Supporting workers without a regular healthcare provider to establish a relationship with a primary care provider of their choice is also recommended.
在肉类加工等重要行业，员工对雇主提供的职业健康服务的信任尚未得到探索。本研究的目的是描述工作场所健康文化以及对职业健康办公室的信任，并强调肉类加工工人在职业健康办公室的体验。
在 2021 年 2 月至 2022 年 10 月期间，对肉类加工工人进行了调查。使用描述性统计和非参数检验来探索信任在人口统计学变量中的差异，包括工作场所健康文化。使用主题分析来检查简短回答的定性数据。
在完成调查的工人中（n=731），健康文化的评分较低（M=1.3（0.73）；可能范围为 0-3）。对职业健康办公室的信任评分也较低（M=8.2（5.06）；可能范围为 0-20）。工人对与职业健康办公室互动的描述大多是不利的（287 个负面意见单位；97 个正面意见单位），主要集中在护理质量、沟通、主管作为健康服务的把关人以及公司利益的优先级上。
通过建立工人对职业健康办公室的信任，可以改善肉类加工工人的健康。建议的策略包括加强沟通、保护机密性、优先考虑工人的福祉，以及在工厂和整个行业内促进更强的健康文化。还建议支持没有常规医疗保健提供者的工人与他们选择的初级保健提供者建立关系。
