[Provision of information about and changes in help-seeking intentions for balancing medical treatment and job content among employees of small- and medium-sized companies: Focusing on cooperative work climate].

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the association between a cooperative work climate and a positive attitude toward seeking help from others and the change in help-seeking intentions for balancing medical treatment and job (BTJ) before and after providing information about the support system to employees of small- and medium-sized companies.

METHODS: In October 2021, we conducted an online survey among 3,200 full-time employees aged 20-64 years who worked in small- and medium-sized companies, had no experience of work restriction due to illness, and did not know the contents of the support system for BTJ in Japan. First, as a condition of "before information provision," respondents were asked to imagine a situation in which they suffered from cancer or stroke and their doctor indicated that it would be difficult for them to work regularly and, subsequently, were asked about their help-seeking intentions for BTJ under such circumstances. Next, as a condition of "after information provision," they were shown a leaflet on the support system for BTJ in Japan and asked about their help-seeking intentions for BTJ again. A binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted with help-seeking intentions for BTJ as the dependent variable.

RESULTS: In total, 2,531 respondents (79.7%) indicated that they would seek help for BTJ both before and after receiving information. In logistic regression analyses, help-seeking intentions for BTJ were more frequently reported when there was a strong cooperative climate and a precedent for support in the workplace. Among participants who indicated that they would not seek help for BTJ before receiving information, those who worked in a company with 50-299 employees and experienced a cooperative climate and/or a precedent of support in the workplace demonstrated significantly more changes in their responses that they would seek help for BTJ after receiving information.

CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 80% of employees in small- and medium-sized companies indicated that they would seek help for BTJ both before and after receiving information. In employees who had a cooperative climate and had a precedent of support regarding BTJ in their workplace, there was a significant change in the response that they would seek help for BTJ after receiving information. These findings suggest that workplace environmental factors such as a cooperative work climate and supported cases regarding BTJ may increase the usefulness of information provision on BTJ and help-seeking intentions for BTJ among employees working for small businesses.