Huidige navorsing op die gebied van welstand in die werkplek is gefragmenteer en vereis ’n
holistiese, geïntegreerde en stelselmatige begrip van werknemerwelstand sodat gesondheiden
welstandsorg doeltreffend bestuur kan word. Die toenemende las van nie-oordraagbare
toestande in Suid-Afrika beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid van voorkomingstrategieë soos
welstandprogramme. Die werkomgewing bied ’n ideale plek, aangesien ’n groot deel van
die bevolking geteiken word, insluitende diegene wie se lewenstyl verbeter moet word.
Hierdie studie is dus daarop gemik om verskeie gesondheid- en welstandkomponente onder
werknemers van ’n mediesefondsmaatskappy te evalueer in ’n poging om risikogebiede te
identifiseer wat verdere ingryping vereis. Die deelnemers het bestaan uit 140 werknemers
van ’n mediesefondsmaatskappy wat ten minste 40 h per week werk. Hulle is onderwerp
aan ’n welstandassesseringsbattery bestaande uit antropometrieke, gesondheidverwante en
fisieke kapasiteitmetings. Die resultate toon dat ingryping nodig is betreffende alkohol- en
dwelmgebruik, dieetgewoontes, hartgesondheid, liggaamsamestelling, spieruithouvermoë,
kardiorespiratoriese uithouvermoë en individuele persepsies van die maatskappy. Dié studie
het resultate opgelewer wat die bevindings van baie vorige navorsing op hierdie gebied staaf.
Die trefwydte van welstandprogramme op die Suid-Afrikaanse bevolking is egter beperk. Die
sukses van welstandprogramme wat fisieke aktiwiteit beklemtoon, is goed gedokumenteer
in hoë-inkomstelande, met bewys van die ekonomiese voordele en opbrengs op belegging.
Gevolglik word daar aangevoer dat die toepassing van welstandprogramme ’n positiewe
uitwerking op die Suid-Afrikaanse werkmag sal hê.
Current research in the area of wellness in the workplace is fragmented and requires a
holistic, integrated and systemic understanding of employee wellness in order for health and
wellness care to be effectively managed. The growing burden of noncommunicable conditions
in South Africa highlights the necessity for prevention strategies such as wellness programmes
to be implemented. The workplace provides an ideal setting as a large proportion of the
population will be targeted, including those who require lifestyle improvement. Therefore
this study sought to evaluate various health and wellness components among employees of a
medical aid company in an attempt to identify risk areas which require further intervention.
Participants were 140 employees of a medical aid company who work a minimum of 40 h per
week and who were subjected to a wellness assessment battery, consisting of anthropometrical,
health-related and physical capacity measurements. The results indicate that intervention is
required in terms of alcohol and drug usage, dietary habits, heart health, body composition,
muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and individual perceptions towards the
company. This study produced results which corroborate the findings of a great deal of
previous research in this field. However, the scope for applying wellness programmes to the
South African population is limited. The success of wellness programmes which emphasise
physical activity has been well documented in high-income countries, with evidence of
economic benefits and return on investment. And so it is proposed that implementation of
wellness programmes will have a positive effect on the South African workforce.
