Preventive healthcare: a profitable approach for companies

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines prevention as "all measures aimed at avoiding or reducing the number and severity of diseases, accidents and handicaps". It also recommends adding health promotion, i.e. encouraging the adoption of habits that protect against disease.

By tackling risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption and promoting healthy lifestyles such as physical activity and a balanced diet, prevention and promotion initiatives aim to prevent as many people as possible from having to go to the doctor, undergo tests and receive treatment.

Let's face it: our healthcare system is more focused on healing than on preventing. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, from 2004 to 2022, a meagre 3% of Quebec's health budget was allocated on average to public health, which is responsible for disease prevention[1] .

In the workplace, however, the situation is changing. More and more, employers are recognizing that their success depends on the health of their staff. That's why they offer programs that address different aspects of health, both physical and psychological.

From the unborn child to the elderly, each stage of life brings its own conditions and concerns. Prevention initiatives therefore vary according to age and situation. Here are just a few examples.

• Pregnant women - genetic risk factors, diet and vitamin supplements, alcohol and other drugs, medication, etc.
• Children - screening for neonatal anomalies and diseases, nutrition (maternal diet), exercise, immunization programs, etc.
• Adolescents - STIs, unwanted pregnancies, alcohol and other drugs, accidents, suicides, etc.
• Adults - chronic diseases (diabetes, heart disease, atherosclerosis, hypertension, lung disease, digestive tract disease, cancer, etc.), occupational health, obesity, smoking, etc.
• Seniors - age-related illnesses (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, COPD, cognitive disorders, Alzheimer's, etc.), loneliness, medication, falls and injuries, etc.

Health prevention must be practiced in all settings, from clinics and hospitals to homes, schools and workplaces.

In the workplace, the primary aim of prevention is to avoid accidents and occupational illness by maintaining a safe working environment and providing training appropriate to the company's activities.

Beyond the regulatory framework of occupational health and safety, a company can also, through a prevention and health promotion program, protect the health of its workers by promoting healthy lifestyles, facilitating work-life balance, appropriately designing the work environment, adopting a corporate culture that fosters health, and offering team members the opportunity to undergo preventive health check-ups appropriate to their personal situation.

Taking a holistic approach to employee well-being is advantageous in many ways. These practices enable companies to :

• reduce absenteeism rates by half[2] compared with the national average;
• improve employee performance and company productivity;
• improve staff satisfaction and their perception of the company, which can boost retention rates;
• spread a more positive image of the employer brand, making recruitment easier;
• to stand out from the competition.

To be effective, initiatives must respond to specific needs or realities. For example, smoking cessation campaigns are regularly launched across the country, as smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in Canada.

In the workplace, every employer needs to set priorities based not only on the company's activities, but also on the interests of staff and the problems they encounter. For example, are employees absent more often because of psychological problems or musculoskeletal disorders? The answer to this question can help employers focus their interventions and choose the most appropriate services. A program may include the following services, among others:

Preventive health assessments. Health assessments, carried out by doctors, help employees to better understand their state of health and to take action to limit conditions that could affect them (a tendency to diabetes, for example). They also make it possible to detect illness early and intervene quickly to treat it, thereby increasing the chances of success.

Raising awareness of healthy lifestyle habits. Organizing events on themes of interest to employees (physical activity, diet, sleep disorders, heart health, etc.) can encourage positive changes that can improve the health and well-being of employees and, at the same time, the company's productivity.

Mental health support. With the exponential increase in mental health problems and psychological distress, companies are well advised to offer tools and resources to employees experiencing difficulties. This can take different forms, such as training sessions for employees and managers, time and stress management workshops, regular information on mental health and access to an independent resource specializing in this field.

These are just a few examples of the elements of a prevention and health promotion program. In our other articles, you can learn more about different prevention initiatives, such as health check-ups, chronic disease and cancer prevention, and even ways to slow down the aging process.