DEVELOPMENT OF A HEALTH PROMOTION PROGRAM FOR ELECTRICAL WORKERS IN PROVINCIAL ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY CHIANG MAI

Abstract

          The Objectives of this research article were to develop a health promotion program for electrical workers in Provincial Electricity Authority in Chiang Mai. Participants were 49 electrical workers in Sankampaeng Provincial Electrical Authority (n=26) and Doi Saket Provincial Electrical Authority (n=23). There were three phases in this research procedure. Phase 1 was to prepare for development a health promotion, including a situational analysis process and a systematic review process. Phase 2 was to develop a health promotion program, including organizing a focus group discussion with participants to analyze the causes and effects of health problems among electrical workers and creating the health promotion program based on the concept of social ecology. Phase 3 was to implement the program. This was a process of negotiation between employers and a group of employees aimed at reaching an agreement on health behavior change.This health promotion program included 1) promoting a healthy and safe environment within the workplaces; 2) creating a well-being area in the workplace; 3 ) putting calorie counts on posters in the cafeteria in the workplace; 4) setting a goal to eat a low calorie and a low fat diet; 5) setting a performance target in the workplace of at least 3,000 steps per day; 6) organizing sports activities every Wednesday to promote physical fitness; 7) awarding those who succeed in their healthy behavior change; 8) following up with participants to evaluate the program and to give suggestions on any problems they face during the process. It is expected that this program will result in better physical and mental health among the participants. The results can be generalized to electrical workers in other local provincial electrical authority offices, and other offices can apply this program to promote the health and wellbeing of their employees.