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The effect of a physical wellness pathway on the chronic absenteeism of shift workers at an Eskom power station

Thesis (MScSportSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: For many companies, health care can consume half of corporate profits or more. Some
employers look to cost sharing, cost shifting, managed care plans, risk rating and cash
based rebates or incentives. These methods merely shift costs.
Absenteeism in South Africa claims 3.2% of all scheduled work hours, 43 000 work hours
per week, 9 days lost per employee per year and 1 employee in every 15 on a weekly
basis.
The main objective of this study was to establish the effect of a physical wellness
intervention on the chronic absenteeism of a governmental company like Eskom. Fiftyfour
males with a mean age of 42.13 years, participated in the program. Morphological and
physiological variables included fat percentage; body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, blood
pressure (BP), flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, waist circumference and muscle
endurance.
The participants were divided into four groups consisting of 12-15 individuals. Data was
collected over a period of six months (March-August 2001). There were six sessions in
which the subjects participated namely: wellness awareness, general body wellness, heart
wellness, stress wellness, posture wellness and nutritional wellness. These sessions
focussed on education, testing and physical activity, with follow-ups and maintenance at
the Biokinetic rehabilitation station.
Trends for the group were traced using a statistical analysis for absenteeism tallying the
GSAR (gross sickness absentee rate) and AFR (absentee frequency rate) for the
participants. The GSAR and AFR were significantly lower during the intervention. The
return of investment was calculated based on the amount of hours worked per month on
the August 2001 payroll, where the increment figure is based on an average increase of
7.9%. The result of the study concluded that work-site body wellness is health care reform
that works, with absenteeism decreasing significantly and an improved employee health
status. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Baie maatskappye kan die helfte of meer van hul wins aan gesondheidsorg spandeer.
Sommige werkgewers oorweeg kostedeling, verskuiwing van kostes,
gesondheidsorgplanne, risikobepaling en kontantkortings of aansporings. Hierdie metodes
skuif eerder net koste.
In Suid-Afrika word 3.2% van alle geskeduleerde werksure as gevolg van afwesigheid
verloor, 43 000 werksure per week, 9 dae per werknemer per jaar en 1 werknemer uit elke
15 op 'n weeklikse basis.
Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om die effek van 'n fisieke welstand intervensie op die
chroniese afwesigheid van 'n parastatale maatskappy soos Eskom daar te stel. Vier en
vyftig mans met 'n gemiddelde ouderdom van 42.13 jaar het aan die program
deelgeneem. Morfologiese en fisiologiese veranderlikes het vetpersentasie;
liggaamsmass-indeks (LMI), cholesterol, bloeddruk (BD), soepelheid, kardiovaskulêre
uithouvermoë, abdominale omtrek en spieruithouvermoë ingesluit.
Die deelnemers is in vier groepe verdeel wat uit 12-15 persone bestaan het. Data is oor 'n
periode van ses maande ingesamel (Maart-Augustus 2001). Die deelnemers het aan die
volgende ses sessies deelgeneem: bewustheid van welstand, algemene liggaamlike
welstand, hartwelstand, streswelstand, postuurwelstand en dieetwelstand. Hierdie sessies
het op die opvoeding, toetsing en fisieke aktiwiteit gefokus met opvolg-ondersoeke en
instandhouding by die Biokinetika rehabilitasiestasie.
Neigings vir die groep is opgevolg deur statistiese analise vir afwesigheid deur die TSAS
(totale siekte afwesigheidsyfer) en AFS (afwesigheidsfrekwensiesyfer) vir die deelnemers
aan te teken. Die TSAS en AFS was beduidend laer tydens die intervensie. Die
beleggingsopbrengs is bereken op die aantal ure per maand op die Augustus 2001
. betaalstaat met die toenamesyfer gebaseer op die gemiddelde verhoging van 7.9%. Die
resultaat van die studie is dat liggaamlike welstand by die werksplek voordelig is vir
gesondheidsorgverbetering en dat afwesigheid beduidend afneem terwyl daar ook 'n
verbetering in die gesondheidstatus van werknemers was.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53629
Date12 1900
CreatorsSchouw, Darcelle D
ContributorsBernard, J.G., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format88 p : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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