Vitality and health: A lifestyle programme for employees

BackgroundThe implementation of Integrative Medicine in the Netherlands is still in its infancy, with the Amsterdam Slotervaart Hospital currently leading the way. Recently a project was started from the principles of the Healthy Hospitals, with specific attention for the health of the hospital personnel. Primary goal of the project is to offer a lifestyle programme (“Vitality and Health”) to the employees of the Slotervaart Hospital.MethodsTo gain insight in the demands and needs about a lifestyle programme a survey was performed among employees of the Slotervaart Hospital. A questionnaire and an informative letter were sent to the home address of each hospital employee. The survey consisted of questions regarding four domains: health check, exercise, stress reduction and healthy nutrition.ResultsThe Slotervaart Hospital employees who responded to the questionnaire were positive towards an expansion of all four domains in the vitality and health programme: health check, exercise, stress reduction and nutrition. With the exception of a few activities percentages of 50% and often higher were scored.ConclusionEmployees are willing to invest in health (for instance by contributing financially) but they consider it important as well that the employer stimulates healthy behaviour.