SPL14 SUPPORT FOR BALANCING MEDICAL TREATMENT AND WORK IN SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES: ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSES
Authors: Nishikido Noriko , Abe Hitomi , Yoshikawa Etsuko , Sasaki Minako , Ito Michiyo , Shimamoto Satoko 
Published: July 2024

Background

Promoting occupational health activities in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a globally familiar challenge. In Japan, the government has proposed a response to the low birth rate and ageing population by requiring the creation of a workplace environment where various people can thrive, including women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and most recently, people undergoing medical treatment. In 2016, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare published guidelines on balancing medical treatment and work. However, SMEs are slow to adopt these efforts. Thus, we examined the possible contributions of occupational health nurses (OHNs) towards treatment–work balance.

Objective

This presentation addresses the roles and functions of OHNs in balancing medical treatment and work in SMEs.

Methods

We conducted qualitative (e.g. interviews and tool/programme development) and quantitative (e.g. questionnaires and interventions) studies on treatment–work balance support and OHN roles in SMEs.

Results

Part 1: Roles of OHNs: Interviews and questionnaire surveys to clarify the roles of OHNs in balance support revealed that OHNs supported individual workers affected by cancer and their supervisors by carefully listening to their needs and advising them. We summarised the roles and functions of OHNs to workers and their workplaces in 12 tips alongside the treatment phases in the guidebook for OHNs. We also developed and validated a training programme.

Part 2: Promoting Balance Support in SMEs: Interviews with SME managers revealed 6 types of company initiatives that promoted balance support in SMEs. Subsequently, an assessment tool was developed for SMEs that contained a radar chart to determine the level of balance support. A cluster randomised controlled trial conducted by a PhD graduate student examined the contributions of OHNs by verifying the efficacy of a balance support programme in OHN-promoted SMEs. The programme significantly increased recognition and attitude towards balance support among SME managers and workers.

Part 3: Collaboration Strategy: We created a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional co-operation model involving OHNs for promoting balance support in SMEs, based on interview data. OHNs effectively co-ordinated among multidisciplinary professionals and institutions. A study is currently exploring the development and validation of a training programme for establishing collaboration between OHNs and labour/social security attorneys in promoting balance support in SMEs.

Discussion

Organisational support and the development of a supportive workplace culture are important for balance support in SMEs. OHNs are expected to more actively provide professional support by providing individual assistance and creating a responsive workplace structure and culture. Furthermore, through multidisciplinary and multi-institutional co-operation, smaller companies may find it easier to promote support for balancing treatment and work among their workers.