Salāmat-i ijtimā̒ī (May 2019)
Qualitative study of the concept and areas of social health of the workplace, its protective factors and risk factors from the perspective of the personnel and managers in a health center in eastern Tehran
Abstract
Background and Objective: Social health as an aspect of general health is an approach that refers to healthy social interactions and its close relationship with other dimensions of health including physical and mental health. Therefore, the functional unit in this approach is on individual level, in multiple interactions with layers with other people among the family, school, workplace, neighborhood, residence place, and ultimately the community. This study aimed to investigate the concept and areas of social health of the workplace, its protective factors and risk factors from the perspective of the personnel and managers in a health center in eastern Tehran. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted through focused group discussions with main stakeholders including staff in the headquarters and front line of a health center in Tehran based on the qualitative research methodology. Sampling method was based on the purposive sampling including 20 participants arranged in three groups. In order to analyze data, framework analysis was employed consequently. Results: In this research, the concept of social well-being of the work environment is defined as indicators of healthy social behaviors, free of violence environments, lack of stress and insecurity, calmness in the workplace, personnel recognition, common organizational goals, job security, benefits, creativity and job satisfaction. Positive organizational values (organizational culture), positive (vertical) organizational relationships, proportionate expenditure, mental health, support of supervisors, interest in the work and the proportion of job duties with salaries and benefits as protective factors and environmental pollution, high levels of job responsibility, feelings of discrimination and injustice, unskilled managers, and instrumental attitudes towards employees have also been identified as the most important risk factors for the social well-being of work environments. Conclusion: The study showed that social health is an independent concept and is characterized by unique characteristics such as employee recognition, corporate organizational goals, job prospects, job security, job satisfaction, and creativity. Healthy social behaviors, an environment free of violence and stress, are also common indicators of social health in work environment and other environments including the family environment, school, community, and community. In general, it could be concluded that the necessity of changing the nature and concept of work from a crop-based approach to a health-oriented approach is the most important result of this research. DOI: http://doi.org/10.22037/ch.v6i3.22918
