Understanding the needs of employees with non-communicable diseases regarding physical activity-related workplace health promotion programs: a qualitative study.
Schaller A, Spanio L, Lange M • Frontiers in public health • 2026
Workplace health promotion programs for employees with non-communicable diseases must be consistently adapted to the target group's work-related environment while taking into account their mental, physical, and social limitations.
Key Findings
Results
Four main categories emerged from interviews with employees with NCDs regarding physical activity-related workplace health promotion programs.
The four main categories identified were: 'subjective health concept', 'workplace-related health challenges and coping strategies', 'experiences with WHP', and 'wishes and needs in terms of PA-related WHP'
Qualitative partly structured interviews were conducted with 15 employees with NCDs
Analysis used structuring content analysis with concurrent deductive and inductive main categories, dimensions and expressions
The study used an exploratory qualitative approach
Results
Employees with NCDs defined and prioritized health in personal, subjective ways, captured under the category 'subjective health concept'.
This category comprised both the personal definition and the personal relevance of health
Individual health concepts were considered a foundational category shaping other responses
Subjective health perceptions informed participants' engagement with workplace health promotion
Results
Employees with NCDs reported both physical and psychological workplace demands, and identified multiple coping strategies.
Workplace-related health challenges were divided into physical and psychological demands
Reported coping strategies included physical activity, nutrition, a supportive social environment, and relaxing activities
These strategies were self-initiated by employees rather than necessarily employer-provided
This category was labeled 'workplace-related health challenges and coping strategies'
Results
Participants' experiences with workplace health promotion programs were characterized across type of program, reasons for participation, access channels, and subjective evaluation.
The 'experiences with WHP' category captured prior and current engagement with WHP programs
Reasons for participation and access channels were identified as distinct dimensions within this category
Subjective evaluation of programs was included as a dimension, reflecting participants' personal assessments of WHP quality and relevance
Results
Employees with NCDs expressed specific wishes and needs regarding physical activity-related workplace health promotion across three dimensions: PA-content, structural aspects, and psychosocial aspects.
The category 'wishes and needs in terms of PA-related WHP' was structured around specific PA-content, structural aspects, and psychosocial aspects
Psychosocial aspects were identified as a distinct and notable dimension of need, highlighting the importance of social and mental considerations
Needs extended beyond physical activity content to include how programs are structured and delivered
Findings indicated that programs must account for mental, physical, and social limitations specific to employees with NCDs
Conclusions
Workplace health promotion for employees with NCDs requires target group-specific adaptation that goes beyond physical activity content to encompass mental, physical, and social limitations.
The authors conclude that 'WHP for employees with NCD must not only be consistently adapted to the target group's work-related environment, but also take into account their mental, physical, and social limitations'
The study provides recommendations for further development of WHP tailored to specific target groups
The rising prevalence of NCDs among working-age people was cited as a key motivation for this research
NCDs were described as burdening those affected and challenging 'society, welfare systems and companies in many different ways'
What This Means
This research explored what employees who have chronic non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes, heart disease, or musculoskeletal conditions) actually want and need from workplace health programs focused on physical activity. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews with 15 employees living with these conditions and analyzed the responses to identify common themes. Four major areas emerged: how participants personally understood their own health, the physical and mental challenges they faced at work and how they coped, their past experiences with workplace health programs, and their specific wishes for future programs.
The study found that employees with chronic diseases have needs that go well beyond simply being offered exercise classes or gym memberships. They cope with both physical and psychological demands at work, and they rely on a range of strategies including physical activity, nutrition, social support, and relaxation. When it came to what they wanted from workplace health programs, participants highlighted not just the type of physical activity offered, but also how programs are structured and the social and emotional environment surrounding them. This suggests that one-size-fits-all approaches are unlikely to meet the needs of this group.
This research suggests that workplace health promotion programs need to be carefully tailored to account for the unique mental, physical, and social limitations that employees with chronic diseases experience. Simply offering generic fitness programs may not be sufficient or accessible for this growing segment of the workforce. Employers and program designers may need to consider more flexible, supportive, and individually adapted approaches to help employees with chronic conditions benefit from workplace health initiatives.
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Schaller A, Spanio L, Lange M. (2026). Understanding the needs of employees with non-communicable diseases regarding physical activity-related workplace health promotion programs: a qualitative study.. Frontiers in public health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1919436