Factors influencing implementation of health-promoting interventions at workplaces: A scoping review

Background: Health promotion interventions in the workplace are effective in improving employee health. However, many interventions are temporary and cannot be sustained, and a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing their implementation is limited. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of health promotion interventions in the workplace using the implementation framework. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from January 1986 to August 2022 according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Consistent with the Arksey and O’Malley framework, two independent reviewers reviewed the titles and abstracts for its eligibility followed by full-text screening using a data extraction form. A narrative summary of the barriers and facilitators identified from the included articles was then synthesized and categorized into the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research (CFIR). The barriers and facilitators identified were stratified according to implementation outcomes. Results: Of the 38,384 articles identified, 610 articles wereeligible for the full-text screening, and 53 articles were included in the final analysis. Over 80% of the studies applied a qualitative or mixed-methods approach, and the most common topics of the interventions were reducing physical inactivity and promoting exercise (36%); and over 60% of studies targeted interventions in medium- to large- size organizations. Most of the factors were identified in the inner setting domain of the CFIR. Evidence strength and quality and leadership engagement were the predominant facilitators whereas structural characteristics, relative priority, and available resources were the most identified predominant barriers to the implementation of a workplace health promotion interventions. Conclusion: The barriers and facilitators identified in this study can be used to implement a process to develop a strategy that targets the identified determinants to improve workplace health promotion interventions and their implementation.