Table 2 Overview of the analysis process and the result

Work-related relationships

Relationships with colleagues

Relationships with users

Health promoting: Support and positive feedback, Social fellowship, Professional development, Constructive conversations.

Health promoting: Close bonds to users, Meaningful and personal reward to make a positive difference in users’ lives, Being appreciated.

Health risks: Grief when users became sick or died, Verbal violence, Sexual harassment, Stigmatization (care profession is for women).

Relations

An unpredictable workplace

Environmental hazards

Unhealthy physical workloads

The perceived responsibility for complying to company safety policies and practices

Health risks: Challenging driving and travelling conditions, Ice and snow in the winter, slippery weather, as slip, trip and fall hazards, Unhygienic Environment, Headaches and nausea, Unhealthy air quality and bad smells, Dust and dirt, Lack of pet related hygiene, Clutter, garbage and hoarding, Tobacco Smoke, Exposed to second-hand smoke, Smell from cigarette smoke steeps into clothing.

Health risks: Users were not willing to make adaptions for use of equipment at home, Limited workspaces, Small and tight rooms, particularly the bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom, Difficult to use appropriate equipment in users home and maintain ergonomic principles, Awkward work postures, Pain in the back, Challenges to maintain ergonomic guidelines because of height and body size, Strenuous work postures on the neck, back, and shoulders, Stiff and pain in the musculature, Pressure to be effective and perform tasks quickly, Multitasking and rushing create unhealthy body positions and incorrect lifting techniques, Unexpected moves, trips or falls from users create unhealthy body positions and incorrect lifting techniques

Health promoting: Some are careful and set stricter limits to protect themselves.

Health risks: Responsible for engaging in the appraisal and facilitation of a healthy workplace, Challenges due to different perceptions of working conditions, Don’t dare to ask for help, Push their own limits in order to help users.

Uncertainty

Demanding work tasks

Hazards

Musculature pain

Working alone

Stress

Organisational conditions

Shift work, time pressure and staffing challenges

Facilitating professional identity

Health risks: Shift work (Disturbed sleep patterns, Reduced sleep quality and poorly rested),

Time pressure (Increasing demands and more efficiently, Skipping lunch, Not going to the toilet, Dizziness, nausea, blood pressure problems, seizures and palpitations, Headaches, tension and strain in the neck and shoulders. Mental and emotional strain, Exhaustion and burnout, Bad feelings for too little time to meet users psychological and social needs), Staffing challenges (Often as a consequence of HCWs on sick leave. Creates more pressure and stress on the remaining workers who perform extra tasks and take on extra responsibilities).

Health promoting: Appropriate tasks to their professional competence and identity, Able to use professional competence, Opportunities for special training and further education.

Hectic workdays

Organisational framework

Being professional