How Do Occupational Physicians Address Employees' Financial Problems? An Exploratory Interview Study into Current Practice and Potential Improvements

Abstract

Objective Problematic debt poses a considerable challenge in the Netherlands, impacting health and work-related outcomes. Occupational physicians play a vital role in guiding absent employees and identifying work-related risk factors for illness. This study investigates how occupational physicians address financial issues among employees and proposes improvements. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with a diverse group of 12 occupational physicians and residents. Results Thematic content analysis revealed that while physicians do not routinely inquire about financial problems, they approach socioeconomic concerns cautiously and consider multiple (structural and individual) risk factors. Current interventions include budget coaching and lifestyle enhancements. Conclusions Despite awareness, current interventions focus on immediate advice targeting downstream factors (ie, social determinants at the individual level), thereby overlooking structural, upstream factors (ie, social determinants on a societal and systemic level) of employees' financial problems. Exploring systems approaches, targeting both individual and structural factors, and more attention for this subject in occupational physicians education, are considered crucial for future effective approaches.