A Qualitative Study of Health Education Perceptions in the Construction Industry
Date
2024-04-06
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Abstract
Health educators are essential in educating and promoting health in various settings, such as communities, workplaces, and schools. In 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 951 fatalities in the construction industry. The problem is there is a limited understanding of construction workers' perceptions of how health education plays a role in workplace fatalities. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to understand the perceptions of construction workers in northern Texas on how public health education can reduce workplace fatalities. A gap in the literature exists in the analysis of worker perceptions of public health education as it relates to workplace fatalities. Community organization theory and social cognitive theory provided the theoretical framework for the study. The two research questions explored the experiences and perceptions of construction workers in northern Texas who have actively participated in the public health education and workplace safety and health programs available to them. Through a basic qualitative methodology, 15 construction workers who had worked in the construction industry for 3 years or more for a company operating for 5 years or more were interviewed. Interview answers were coded using a thematic framework and analysis. The shared experiences and perceptions were combined into five themes. Workplaces and communities can collaborate using these construction workers' experiences and perceived challenges to reduce workplace fatalities. A recommendation for future research might include construction workers from similar settings.
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