Motivating lifestyle change in the workplace

Health screenings for individuals provide the worker and the occupational health nurse with motivational data for lifestyle modification. Behavioural change theory recognises the importance of ongoing support and ready resource access, as essential in the maintenance of changes in health behaviour. When health screenings are carried out in a community setting such as a mobile risk assessment clinic, the client has little access to follow up care. In situations where health screening is undertaken at the workplace, peer support for the changed behaviour is available for other workers and the nurse is on site to provide ongoing health education.