Enhancing physical activity knowledge exchange strategies for Canadian long-haul truck drivers

• Date: 11 April 2020
• Pages: 139-152
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJWHM-02-2019-0032
• Published date: 11 April 2020
• Author: Paul F. Gorczynski,Sarah Edmunds,Ruth Lowry
• Subject Matter: Health & social care,Healthcare management,HR & organizational behaviour,Human resource policy,Employee welfare

Enhancing physical activity

knowledge exchange strategies for

Canadian long-haul truck drivers

Paul F. Gorczynski

School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth,

Portsmouth, UK

Sarah Edmunds

Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport, University of Chichester, Chichester,

UK, and

Ruth Lowry

School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex,

Chichester, UK

Abstract

Purpose –Canadian long-haul truck drivers lead sedentary lives, but are receptive to receiving physical

activity information to address health risks. This study examined how Canadian long-haul truck drivers would

like to receive physical activity information in order to improve their overall health. The purposeof this study

was twofold: 1) explore barriers Canadian long-haul truck drivers have to receiving and using physical activity

information and 2) understand how physical activity information should be structured and delivered to these

drivers to overcome these barriers.

Design/methodology/approach –Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 Canadian long-haul

truck drivers. Drivers had, on average, 14.3 years of professional long-haul driving experience.

Findings –Few drivers had received any physical activity information. Drivers discussed a culture where

they perceived both employers and drivers to be lacking awareness of the importanceof physical activity and

its impact on health. Drivers explained they were too busy, stressed or tired to be active or to learn about

physical activity. Information received by some drivers on this topic was too general to be helpful in changing

physical activity behaviours. Drivers mentioned that personalized and accessible physical activity information

should be provided to them through multiple methods by their employers, as an aspect of occupational health

and safety.

Practical implications –Future physical activity information strategies should use both passive and

interactive mediums to promote physical activity to Canadian long-haul truck drivers.

Originality/value –This is the first study to assess how Canadian long-haul truck drivers would like to

receive trustworthy information that can lead to healthful improvements in physical activity behaviour.

Keywords Physical activity, Long-haul truck drivers, Health messaging, Health promotion, Knowledge

dissemination, Qualitative research

Paper type Research paper

Regular physical activity is essential to improve both physical and mental health (Piercy

et al., 2018). Research shows that many Canadian adults are physically inactive, with

approximately 10 per cent obtaining necessary amounts of moderate and vigorous activity

when accelerometer results are assessed (Colley et al., 2011). Studies show that low amounts of

physical activity and sedentary working conditions can contribute to overweight and obesity,

and chronic health conditions like diabetes and coronary heart disease (Choi et al., 2010).

North American long-haul truck drivers face many internal and external barriers to

physical activity (Passey et al., 2014). Internal barriers, or personal barriers, can include

demographic and biological variables (e.g., sex, ethnicity), physical factors (e.g., previous

injuries,fatigue), psychosocial factors (e.g.,perceived competence, motivation) and behavioural

factors (e.g., previous levels of physical activity, smoking) (Bauman et al., 2012). External

Physical

activity and

Canadian

truckers

139

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

https://www.emerald.com/insight/1753-8351.htm

Received 28 February 2019

Revised 29 September 2019

16 November 2019

Accepted 11 December 2019

InternationalJournalof Workplace

HealthManagement

Vol. 13 No.2, 2020

pp.139-152

© EmeraldPublishing Limited

1753-8351

DOI 10.1108/IJWHM-02-2019-0032