The Development of Academic Mechanisms for Healthy Workplace Promotion

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to develop academic mechanism to support healthy workplace. The method employed was action research. The main target group were provincial projects promoting healthy workplace that received support from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. The operation methods include developing leaders, providing academic support, knowledge creation, and organizing learning exchange forums. Quantitative data were collected by questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were collected by in-depth interview, focus group discussion, portfolio, and lesson learned. Data were analyzed by content analysis.

The results showed that the academic mechanism to support healthy workplace consisted of 3 mechanisms. The frst mechanism was the happy workplace manager who had the potential to manage work, people, and knowledge and had the  ability to coordinate stakeholders at all levels.
The second mechanism was the method of academic support providing to the network which needed to include progress monitoring, mentoring procedure, consultation for operation development, and problem solution. The third mechanism was the development of knowledge from the lesson learned and the research to synthesize the knowledge to create and publish the media to target audience and also to create learning space among operators. All these three mechanisms helped to extend and improve healthy workplace in many areas. Therefore, it is important that authorities and those involved should promote this mechanism for continuous operation.