Insights into the implementation of workplace health promotion interventions among education professionals using a participatory approach

The main purpose of this exploratory study was to examine implementation strategies of workplace health-promoting interventions for employees of a large education institution. A collaborative participatory action research (PAR) approach was used, involving delegates of teachers, managers and HR professionals with three groups (5-6 delegates) representing three divisions of the organization. In four 3-hour co-creation sessions each group of delegates discussed health-promoting intervention strategies including implementation facilitators and barriers, wishes and needs of their colleagues and implementation strategies. The co-creation sessions resulted in (1) a variation of facilitators and barriers on multiple levels of implementation (individual, team & organizational level), (2) multiple topics related to the wishes and needs of education professionals, and (3) provided suitable intervention avenues regarding suitable health promoting initiatives. This participatory approach provided tailored workplace health promoting interventions and offered implementation strategies that addressed the specific needs of education professionals.