There have been a considerable number of studies that have examined the potential benefits of companies investing in corporate fitness (CF) programmes and the results have been well publicised. However, in the UK, little research has investigated the development, implementation and management of CF and how this has impacted upon programmes and their effectiveness. The aim of this thesis was to begin to fill this void of research and understanding and to examine whether CF is regarded as an initiative that contributes to organisational success. Therefore, the management of CF was evaluated so its role within corporate philosophy and its relevance to research on business management could be assessed. The research analysed the perceptions of both users (n=149) and non-users (n=122) of CF, through two separate questionnaires, that sought to gain both qualitative and quantitative information. To examine the experiences and perceptions of individuals working within CF, semi-structured, qualitative interviews (n=25) with CF consultants (n=7), managers (n= 11), company representatives (n=5), a member of the Health Development Agency (n= I), and a member of the Association of Workplace Health Promotion (n= I) were also conducted. In addition, a group discussion was held between key CF industry figures to discuss further issues raised during the interviews. The results indicated that CF has become increasingly popular amongst employees and prevalent within companies, arguably as a result of general changes in attitude towards health, fitness, and lifestyle. CF has begun to develop a more holistic approach to health and fitness and has been commonly rebranded 'Corporate Wellness' (CW). However, CW is not significantly different from CF and the effectiveness of programmes in positively impacting upon the majority of the workforce is doubtful. CW tends not have a high profile within companies and providers are restricted from developing more effective management and marketing practices, partly due to a lack of resources. In addition, companies fear that instead of improving work performance, through improved well-being, employee productivity could actually deteriorate as individuals spend less time working. Currently, companies lack an understanding of the role CW plays within the workplace and, as a result, programmes lack direction and do not have any clear objectives. The future of CW, as a beneficial initiative, will be dependent upon the development of effective management strategies that will encourage company-wide participation and demonstrate that its associated benefits are a reality. In conclusion, the research suggests that CW is predominantly used as a perk for those individuals who have an interest in health and fitness. Consequently, contrary to previous research, the evidence indicates that CW, in the UK, is not an essential initiative within corporate management.

No description available.

This thesis examines the important and topical issue of food safety among member states of the European Union. After tracing the development of related legislation, a review of the literature focuses on its management within the European hotel industry. In attempting to account for differences in attitudes and practice towards food safety, the study explores the respective application oftwo opposing theoretical positions. The first, known as divergence theory, which tends to equate culture with nationality, maintains that variation is attributable to inter-country differences in norms and values. The second, convergence theory, argues that culture is more appropriately understood in the organisational sense as functioning at the corporate level of the hotel. Hence, under the latter perspective, an explanation of variance is more likely to be derived from differences in type or ethos of hotel (whether chain or independent) and the ways that they are structured according to mode ofoperation, size and hierarchy. After outlining the methodological difficulties of carrying out a comparative study capable of resolving the foregoing dilemma, the empirical section takes place in two major stages: (1 ) a canvassing of expert opinion, with a view to filling gaps in knowledge of the legislation and its implementation; and (2) the conducting of a sample survey among hotel personnel in a number of EU member states (this stage being preceded by a small, two-phase pilot investigation). In order to contrast the rival theories statistically, the data from the survey are analysed by a series of relevant independent variables and tested for significance. Although there are acknowledged limitations on the degree of generalisation that can be claimed, by and large the convergence theory is upheld. A summary of the findings is provided and a number of implications for the future of food safety legislation in the EU are highlighted.

This thesis examines the development of occupational health and safety policies in Ontario from 1880 to 1914 focusing on the Railway Accidents Act, Ontario Factory Act, Workmen's Compensation for Injuries Act and the Workmen's Compensation Act. Together they formed the basic regulatory framework that endured in Ontario until the 1970s. / The rise of industrial capitalism and the growth of the private market in the mid-1880s brought forward the factory system which depended on an unskilled labouring class and the use of power-driven machinery. Thus system of production created many risks for workers including accidents and diseases, and resultant financial problems caused by an inability to work. / The role of, and interactions among, workers, employers, and the state were key in determining the particular patterns of policy development. Although health and safety policies provided only minimal protection to workers, while at the same time causing little disruption to business, the policies were more beneficial to workers when labour played an active role in the policy-making process.

Typescript. / Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 205-218). / Microfiche. / xiii, 218 leaves, bound 29 cm

OBJECTIVES The overall aim of the project were to conduct a survey of the physical and mental health status of prisoners in New South Wales (NSW). A more specific aim, which is addressed in this PhD, was to analyse in detail a number of key health areas which have particular relevance to prisoner populations namely: tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, herpes simplex type 2 virus, childhood sexual abuse (CSA), and drug and alcohol use. METHODS A cross-sectional, random sample of prisoners, stratified by sex, age and Aboriginality was chosen from 27 correctional centres (24 male and 3 female) in NSW in 1996. Screening was conducted by nurses from within the correctional health system. A detailed face-to-face interview was used to collect self-reported information on a range of physical and mental health characteristics, and behavioural issues. The physical health component covered chronic illness, recent symptoms, health services utilisation, medications, and self assessed health status. Mental health issues which were covered included: suicide attempts, self-harm, prior mental illness and psychiatric medication. Standardised screening instruments were used to test for depression, hopelessness and suicidal intent. Behavioural factors sought were drug and alcohol use, gambling, and sexual abuse. Blood samples were taken to screen for a range of infectious diseases and health indicators. These included HIV, syphilis, herpes simplex type-2 virus, rubella, chlamydia, and hepatitis (B, C, and G). A Mantoux skin test was performed to screen for tuberculosis infection. Hearing was assessed using otoacoustic emissions. RESULTS A total of 789 inmates (657 males and 132 females), including 235 Aboriginal people were screened, representing approximately 11% of males and 40% of females in full-time incarceration. For the key areas examined in the chapters we found: Overall health status ???? Overall health status was poor compared with the NSW general population in regard to self-reported chronic illness, recent health complaints, and well-being. Hospitalisation was less frequent in male prisoners than general community males but higher in female prisoners for mental health problems compared with community females. Tuberculosis ???? No previously undetected cases of tuberculosis were found; however, Mantoux positivity was higher in Aboriginal and overseas born prisoners. Viral hepatitis ???? Markers for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and hepatitis G were significantly more common in the NSW prisoner population than in the general community. Significant disparities were found between prisoners???? self-report of past exposure to hepatitis (B and C) and their serostatus. Thirty five percent of inmates who were hepatitis C antibody positive believed that they were negative, and for hepatitis B, 72% of positives reported they were negative. Multivariate analysis identified Aboriginality, long-term injecting, and injecting while in prison as risk factors for HBV. Risk factors for exposure to HCV were female sex, non-Aboriginality, history of childhood institutionalisation, and injecting-related behaviours. For HGV, female sex, and previous imprisonment were significant risk factors but injecting was not; being aged 25-39 years was associated with a decreased risk for HGV as compared to younger and older inmates. Herpes simplex virus type 2 ???? The prevalence of HSV-2 antibodies in this prisoner population was similar to that observed in NSW STD clinic attendees, and was higher in females than males. Exposure was related to: increasing age and Aboriginality for men, and higher reported number of lifetime sexual partners and the presence of hepatitis C antibodies for women. Few prisoners (1%) reported a previous diagnosis of genital herpes. Childhood sexual abuse ???? The prevalence of self-reported childhood sexual abuse was higher in females than males, and similar to that observed in clinical populations. There was an association between CSA and mental health outcomes, including a history of psychiatric treatment and suicide attempts. Male survivors of CSA were more likely to report self-harm, depression, and involvement in violent relationships. Both men and women with a history of CSA were more likely to report having a sexually transmissible disease (STD). Females exposed to CSA were more likely to report subsequent abusive adult relationships involving physical assault, sexual assault, and verbal abuse. Drug use ???? Overall, 64% of prisoners had used illicit drugs at some time in the past with cannabis (males 56%, females 63%) and heroin (males 29%, females 49%) being the most common. Forty four percent of prisoners had a history of injecting drug use, with injecting prevalence significantly higher in females than males (64% vs. 40%). Half of male and female injectors had done so while in prison. Harmful or hazardous use of alcohol was associated with imprisonment for violent crimes, whereas opiate and methadone use were associated with non-violent crimes. Sixty two percent of property offenders had an injecting history. Alcohol intoxication at the time of offending was associated with imprisonment for homicides and assaults. Males were more likely than females to seek treatment in prison for drug problems. IMPLICATIONS Prisoners in NSW have a number of special health needs which are evidenced in the high levels of infectious diseases (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis G, and herpes simplex virus type 2) and exposure to factors (childhood sexual abuse and alcohol and drug use) with a clear relationship to adverse health outcomes. Prisons represent an opportunity for public health interventions to address some of the health problems identified in this study. Potentially valuable programmes include education to prevent the spread of blood borne communicable diseases and STDs, immunisation for vaccine preventable diseases such as hepatitis B, and treatment to alleviate the effects of drug use and childhood sexual abuse. In the case of prison drug use the prison environment itself presents a threat to health in that sterile injecting equipment is not available to prisoners despite evidence that injecting in prison is widespread. The challenge for prison health planners is twofold: to make maximum use of the window of opportunity to improve the health status of this group, and to provide a continuum of care between the community and prison.

Until recently, place has been of little interest to health research. While fundamental to anthropological accounts, place has been largely relegated to the bounded and inert ground on which human agency is exercised. In this dissertation the relationship between people and the places in which they live is brought to the foreground. I am interested in bridging the gap between human agency and the social structures that underpin health by examining the subjective experiences and narrative accounts of individuals linked to the social organisation of places and their histories. The social theory of Pierre Bourdieu and his concepts of habitus, field and capital, brings analysis of these health encounters closer to the experience of everyday practice. The broader interest that runs in the background of the thesis is the interplay between the social determinants of health, the capacity to act and health inequality. Based in the Warlpiri settlement of Yuendumu in Central Australia, the ethnography critically examines the engagement between Indigenous understandings of health, well-being and being ill, and the dominant biomedical discourse that shapes disease prevention and health promotion interventions. Against a landscape of a rapidly changing Warlpiri social world, the search for Indigenous health extends beyond the biomedical life world and into the tensions of a wider social context. These sites of engagement are imagined as borderlands - emergent intra-cultural meeting places between yapa and kardiya.

Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Community Medicine, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-80).

Thesis (DR. P.H.)--University of Michigan.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1978.