Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: Hospitals play an important role in health systems. However, hospitals can be high risk environments for employees, patients, visitors and the neighbors. The aim of this study was to explore experiences and perspectives of medical staff regarding the impact of hospitals on their health and also their suggestions for changing hospitals into health promoting hospitals.

Methods: The study reported here was conducted using qualitative approach in five hospitals. 45 medical staff were interviewed. Semi-structured interview guide was developed based on health promoting hospitals and used to collect the data. Data were analyzed by framework analysis method.

Results: In general 14 main themes were extracted from answers the participants gave to three questions of the interviews. In regards to positive impact of working in hospitals, answers were categorized under three themes of increase of knowledge and information, easy access to hospital services and happiness. Related themes about negative impact of working in hospitals were negative mental impact, diseases transmission and tiredness. Main themes of suggesting strategies for making the hospital a health promoting hospital included creating a healthier work environment, infectious disease control, educational classes, and better services to patients and their visitors.

Conclusions: Differences in the quality and quantity of health related problems and the suggested solutions show clearly that hospitals have different needs and level of readiness to become a health promoting hospitals. Some studied hospitals have a long way to become health promoting hospitals.