Preventive Care Utilization, Employer-Sponsored Benefits, and Influences on Utilization by Healthcare Occupational Groups

Background: Despite their proximity to healthcare and being the source of health information, healthcare workers experience high rates of preventable chronic diseases. Work is the most common source of health insurance and other resources, yet only a few studies examined healthcare workers’ preventive care use and the availability of employer-sponsored benefits by healthcare job categories: service workers (e.g., environmental services), support workers (e.g., nursing assistants), or clinicians (e.g., nurses).

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 773 healthcare workers recruited through the American Population Panel in August 2023.

Findings: While 94% of participants reported having employer-sponsored health insurance, service and support workers received fewer fringe benefits, such as paid time off and flexible spending accounts. They also had lower rates of blood pressure (48.6% vs. 53.2% vs. 68.5%, p < .001), cholesterol (21.6% vs. 26.9% vs. 40.8%, p < .01), diabetes (23% vs. 29.4% vs. 40.9%, p < .01), and mental health (10.8% vs. 21.4% vs. 29.6%, p < .05) screenings compared to clinicians. No significant differences were observed in vaccination rates. Reducing future burdens and trust in healthcare providers were primary intrinsic and extrinsic motivators in receiving preventive care.

Conclusions: Disparities in preventive care utilization and fringe benefits exist among service and support workers despite high rates of employer-sponsored insurance.

Application to practice: Occupational health practitioners are well-positioned to advocate for accessible workplace health initiatives, such as on-site screenings. By addressing disparities, occupational health practitioners can promote workforce sustainability and improve the health of service and support healthcare workers.