Training of Employers and Employees in Workplace Health Promotion in Bulgaria: 7-year Experience

Introduction: Workplace Health Promotion (WHP) become increasingly relevant field of action for public health improvement. According to the Bulgarian legislation annual trainings on health and safety at work are obligatory for employers and employees. The aim of this paper is to share 7-year experience in training of employers and employees in WHP. Materials and Methods: Generally, 9 employers/organizations and 120 employees in three focus groups were included in the training, organized by Occupational Health Service in collaboration with health promotion experts of Medical University - Pleven. Results: At the beginning (2014), about 2/3 of the participants distrust of the proposed approaches. To adapt the training to needs of the audience, a study on the barriers and difficulties in carrying out health promotion activities at workplace was made. Participants were also asked about aspects of WHP that they interested in. During the following meetings (every year from 2014 until now), interest to the WHP and approaches of its implementation have been increasing. Participants improved their activity in discussions, interactive teaching and training approaches get preferable. Conclusion: Lack of knowledge about health promotion concept and its principles predispose to distrust of its potential for public health improvement. Positive attitude to the concept could be established by increasing knowledge and skills in this area and by examples of good practices and results.