Health Behaviors and Health Promotion Management Guidelines for Supporting Staffs in Faculty of Medicine Thammasat University

Abstract

This study describes desirable health behaviors and health promotion guidelines for supporting staffs of Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University. This survey was conducted between January and September 2018 in supporting staffs of Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University. For quantitative data, one hundred and twenty-four staffs were asked to complete a questionnaire, which was newly developed according to desirable health behaviors suggested by Ministry of Public Health. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics: frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. For qualitative data, eighteen staffs were enrolled in focus group discussion. The results showed that knowledge of dietary, exercise, stress management, smoking, and alcohol and drug usage among supporting staffs were high, accounted for 76.6%, 76.6%, 75.0%, 62.9% and 57.3% respectively. The attitude towards dietary, smoking, and alcohol and drug usage were good, accounted for 50.8%, 67.7%, and 58.1% respectively; attitude towards exercise and stress management were moderate, accounted for 50.8% and 63.7%. However, actual practice of health behavior in dietary, exercise, and stress management were low, accounted for 75.0%, 62.9%, and 50.8% respectively. 97.5% of the staffs did not smoke and 54% did not consume alcoholic beverages. In the focus group discussion, participants suggested that health promotion guidelines topics which were dietary, exercise, stress management, and smoking cessation would appropriate to be implemented as health promotion programs in workplace as follows.

1. Dietary: a suggestion of healthy meals, demonstration and practice of making the dishes together with the nutritional values and benefits of the dishes; set up of stores selling various types healthy food in the cafeteria; suggestion of the credible resources such as application about healthy food or provide an accessible visual about nutritious food and good dietary; consultation about nutrition and dietary for the individuals
2. Exercise: access to a fitness center as a Faculty’s welfare; information and training in appropriate exercise for healthy individuals and people with chronic illnesses
3. Stress management: annual mental health assessment; provision of a communicative forum for feeling expression or feedback from work; provision of various stress coping activities
4. Smoking cessation: an access to smoking cessation clinic or candy for smoking cessation provided by the Faculty

This study suggests that health promotion program may comprises activities related to the needs and working contexts of the supporting staffs in Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University, in order to promote healthy behaviors and potentially lead the organization to becoming a health promoting medical school.