Older health care workers’ lived experience of promoting health in work life

Author: Robynne Rankine

Rankine, Robynne, 2019 Older health care workers’ lived experience of promoting health in work life, Flinders University, College of Medicine and Public Health

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Abstract

This thesis is a report of a phenomenological study of older health care workers’ lived experience of health in work life. The purpose of the study was to explore, identify and examine the meanings attached to the lived experience of health in work life and explore the prerequisites for health promotion to help ensure older worker health develops and is preserved.

Phenomenological inquiry was chosen as it places the researcher into the field of perception of the older worker, to see and feel the phenomenon through listening, to empathically understand the lived experience of older workers opening avenues of communication with this cohort. In addition, to examine this phenomenon a salutogenic lens was applied to Baum’s (2008) socio-environmental health promotion framework and Brofenbrenner’s (2005) socio-ecological developmental framework as they provided a way to conceptualise, examine and make visible older worker health in work life.

The context for this study was the Tasmanian Health Service and findings were based upon 171 participants in 13 focus groups and 3 semi-structured interviews undertaken with nursing, allied health professionals and health managers. An interpretive analysis was conducted to examine the different meanings of health for older workers. The identified themes were contrasted with the themes presented in the academic literature and the framing of health for this cohort was examined.

The analysis revealed that older workers offered a greater understanding of workplace health and a range of potential solutions to help improve workplace health in the Tasmanian Health Service. This illustrated how older workers’ perspectives can enrichen health promotion solutions for older workers. Twenty context-specific recommendations were developed to improve workplace health in the Tasmanian Health Service.

Keywords: older workers, health promotion, health in work life, phenomenology, socioecological, ageing at work.

Subject: Public Health thesis

Thesis type: Professional Doctorate
Completed: 2019
School: College of Medicine and Public Health
Supervisor: Prof Colin MacDougall