Organisational roles and responsibilities for health: a pilot survey of businesses, primary and secondary schools and local government

Rothwell, Heather, Murphy, Simon, MacDonald, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8245-2347 and Harrop, Emily ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2820-0023 2006. Organisational roles and responsibilities for health: a pilot survey of businesses, primary and secondary schools and local government. [Working Paper]. School of Social Sciences Working Papers Series, vol. 78. Cardiff: Cardiff University.

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Abstract

The idea of organisations taking responsibilities for health has both theoretical and political relevance. However, there is a need to develop a clearer understanding of how organisations conceptualise and respond to such policy initiatives across a range of sectors. Research was commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government to explore perceptions of responsibility at different levels including individual, organisational and state roles and responsibilities for health improvement amongst the general public and key stakeholders. This report focuses on the results of a pilot survey conducted with 688 representatives across the business, education and local government sectors in Wales. The overall response rate was 31%, with 14.3% for local authorities, 14.9% for business, 38.8% for secondary schools and 52.0% for primary schools. Follow-up stages appeared to be effective in increasing the response but samples were very small, and the response rate was too low to justify an extensive statistical analysis. Data from the questionnaires are presented as a description of a non-representative group subject to potential measurement error. Results from business respondents suggest that they accept some degree of responsibility for the health of employees and customers in the area of accidents and injuries. Otherwise they take very little action to promote health and most do not want to do any more. Reasons given included a lack of resources, training and information, a lack of need and individuals being responsible for their own health. Results for both primary and secondary schools suggest that schools accept a high degree of responsibility for promoting the health of pupils. All report participation in more than one health-promotion initiative and many say they would like to do more. The report also includes resource and methodological implications for future survey work of this kind.

Item Type:	Monograph (Working Paper)
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Additional Information:	Report prepared for the Welsh Assembly Government
Publisher:	Cardiff University
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	16 Nov 2022 20:24
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/78149

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