How Do Occupational Physicians Address Employees’ Financial Problems? An Exploratory Interview Study Into Current Practice and Potential Improvements (October 2024)-How Do Occupational Physicians Address Employees’ Financial Problems? An Exploratory Interview Study Into Current Practice and Potential Improvements

How Do Occupational Physicians Address Employees’ Financial Problems? An Exploratory Interview Study Into Current Practice and Potential Improvements

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The study by Toine Heezen and Jantien van Berkel explores how occupational physicians (OPs) in the Netherlands address employees' financial problems, an issue linked to health issues like stress and cardiovascular diseases. Problematic debt is a widespread issue in the Netherlands, affecting 7.8% of the population, with significant repercussions for both employees' health and employer costs.<br /><br />The research used semi-structured interviews with 12 OPs, revealing that while they are aware of financial problems, inquiries aren't routine. When financial issues are apparent, OPs focus on socioeconomic stressors, considering risk factors like income, job type, lifestyle, and psychiatric comorbidities. Current interventions mainly target individual behavioral changes rather than systemic factors, such as budget coaching and lifestyle advice.<br /><br />OPs recognize the connection between financial stress and health, often mediated by stress and impacting health-related behaviors negatively. However, interventions don't adequately address upstream factors, such as systemic and societal determinants.<br /><br />Challenges include a lack of standardized procedures and anticipated stigma around financial discussions. OPs often leverage indirect inquiries or broader socio-economic questions to gauge financial distress. There's an emphasis on the need for enhanced training for OPs, particularly new practitioners, on systemic interventions and risk factors.<br /><br />The study suggests enhancing educational curriculums for OPs on financial distress, developing clear referral pathways, and engaging employers in early detection could improve outcomes. Future research should explore systemic approaches and the role of other stakeholders, like employers and general practitioners, to develop comprehensive strategies for addressing employees’ financial issues holistically.

Keywords

occupational physicians

financial problems

Netherlands

health issues

stress

cardiovascular diseases

interventions

systemic factors

training

employers