Work

From Assessment to Impact: How Workplace Health Screening Informs Staff Wellbeing in a University Setting

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background/Objectives: With increasing requirements for health assessments, the working environment offers an effective setting to engage individuals at risk of disease. This study aimed to investigate the current health status of university employees through individual workplace health screening and explore the perceived feasibility, relevance, demand and impact. Methods: A total of 156 individuals attended a one-off health assessment (September 2024 and July 2025). Sociodemographic characteristics, body composition (height, weight, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio), cardiovascular health (heart rate, blood pressure, electrocardiogram) and fasted capillary blood samples (total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipid cholesterol (HDL-C), glucose) were collected. Individuals were then invited to complete an online questionnaire reviewing their experiences, with 71 (67 qualitative) responses collected. Results: Females displayed a higher waist-to-hip (p < 0.001, Rank biserial correlation (RBC) = 0.65), waist-to-height (p = 0.02, RBC = 0.24) ratio, lower systolic blood pressure (p = 0.010, Cohen’s d = 0.44) and QRISK®3 relative risk (p < 0.001, RBC = 0.41). Fasted capillary blood samples noted significantly lower glucose (p = 0.020, RBC = 0.25) and TC/HDL-C ratio (p < 0.001, RBC = 0.48), with significantly higher HDL-C (p < 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.93) in females compared to males. A total of three overarching themes were identified from the qualitative responses in the impact assessment, undertaken 2–10 months following screening: ‘Positive experiences of health screening’, ‘The impact of health screening’ and ‘The future of health screening’.Conclusions: This mixed-methods cross-sectional study with post-intervention survey provides an important discussion of the perceived benefits of workplace health screening. Underpinned by both the quantitative and qualitative outcomes, health screening provided a feasible and well-received approach to support the understanding of health in university staff.

Source: Healthcare

DOI: 10.3390/healthcare14070912

Authors: Rebecca Louise Jones, Georgia Clay, Tina El-Bikam, Melissa J. Bargh

Institutions: Federation University, University of Lincoln, University of Nottingham, Arthritis UK, Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre

Language: English

Topic: Health Promotion and Cardiovascular Prevention

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258