Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40483433›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2025

A scoping review of UK local government workplace health and wellbeing programmes.

Austen El-Osta, Sami Altalib, Aos Alaa, Mahmoud Al-Ammouri, Manisha Karki, Eva Riboli-Sasco, Azeem Majeed, Laura Kudrna

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Austen El-OstaSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK. a.el-osta@imperial.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8772-4938
Sami AltalibSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7404-8486
Aos AlaaSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6130-5092
Mahmoud Al-AmmouriSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-6184-6818
Manisha KarkiSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6996-8915
Eva Riboli-SascoSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9922-9125
Azeem MajeedDepartment of Primary Care & Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, 90 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2357-9858
Laura KudrnaInstitute of Applied Health Research in Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2 TT, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8163-7112

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWorkplace settings are linked to staff health and wellbeing, affecting sickness absence, presenteeism and productivity. With the growing prevalence of health issues among employees in the UK, including stress and long-term conditions, effective workplace health and wellbeing support by local government can play a crucial role in keeping people economically active and well.

objectiveIdentify and characterise workplace health and wellbeing programmes offered by local authorities within the United Kingdom.

methodsA scoping review involved a comprehensive search of Local Authority Districts (LADs) and county councils' websites followed by direct communications between 1 January 2024 and 30 April 2024. Initiatives were included if they were designed to enhance workplace health and wellbeing, actively ongoing and offered at no cost to workplaces. Data were extracted on the initiative name, provider, deprivation level, health focus, workplace eligibility and accreditation processes.

resultsThe review identified 61 active local government workplace health programmes across the UK in March 2024, reflecting a 21% provision among local authorities. These initiatives were homogenous in focus, scope of coverage and implementation methods, with all focusing on general health. Geographical mapping highlighted regional disparities in the provision of workplace health and wellbeing initiatives that are free at the point of access (WHISPAs). England had a higher number (Central, Southern, and Southeastern regions specifically) while the rest of England, Wales, Scotland and North Ireland had a lower number or no WHISPAs.

conclusionThere is a need for more coordinated efforts to increase the visibility and accessibility of local government workplace health initiatives that are free at the point of access. National workplace health accreditation could further encourage employers to adopt health and wellbeing programmes.

Indexed as

Health PromotionLocal GovernmentOccupational HealthOccupational Health ServicesWorkplaceHumansUnited KingdomEmployee healthPublic healthSickness absenceUKWellbeing initiativesWorkplace health

Identifiers

PMID40483433
PMCPMC12144689

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.