Cleaners' experiences with group-based workplace physical training

This study investigates how work-site health promotion intervention, by involving group-based physical coordination training, may increase participants’ social awareness of new ways to use the body. Purpose: We investigated cleaners’ experiences with a one-year health promotion intervention involving group-based physical coordination training (PCT) during working hours. Design: We conducted a qualitative evaluation using method triangulation; continuous unfocused participant observation during the whole intervention, semi-structured focus group interview, and individual written evaluations one month post-intervention. We analyzed interview data using Systematic Text Condensation.
Findings: Participants learned to use their bodies in new ways. Group training permitted social breaks from work, enforcing colleague unity. Participants did not perceive training as stressful, although working-time consuming. Participants experienced difficulty in adhering to the training, as support from supervisors and instructors decreased throughout the intervention. Adherence is dependent on support from supervisors and instructors, and the experienced learning potential may therefore be on borrowed time. Plans for implementation seem to be important for sustained effects of health-promotion interventions in the workplace. Originality: The social character of the physical training facilitated a community of practice, which potentially supported the learning of new competencies, and how to improve the organization and performance of work tasks. Participants created their own meaning of the intervention, and achieved increased perceived work ability. This study is important, as it demonstrates how interventions may have an effect on the participants that may not be measureable by objective measures.