[Facilitators and Barriers to Implementing University Health Management: A Qualitative Study].

Abstract

Changes at German universities, such as an increasing workload and a shift towards competition, require investments in health promotion. University Health Management (UHM) aims to support the development of a health-promoting setting. While conceptual considerations emphasize promising success factors for UHM, empirical studies are lacking. The aim of this qualitative study is therefore to identify facilitators and barriers to the implementation of UHM from the perspective of experts.We interviewed 26 experts in guideline-based interviews regarding facilitators and barriers to implementing UHM. Data were analysed using content-analytical methods following Kuckartz, assisted by MAXQDA 2020 software.We identified eight factors that can be both supportive and inhibiting in the implementation of UHM: university leadership, health as a topic within universities, networks, collaboration and exchange, structural organization, target groups, financial resources, collaboration with health insurance providers, and state university laws. Additionally, individual supporting factors, such as adherence to guidelines for a healthy university, or barriers, such as a heterogeneous understanding of UHM and time constraints, influence the implementation.Various facilitators and barriers can be found when introducing UHM. These factors need to be considered within the diverse structures, historical backgrounds, and sizes of universities. Thus, there is no universal blueprint for the development and implementation of UHM. A uniform understanding of UHM and the integration of health into state-level university seem fundamental for the successful implementation of UHM.