Qualitative study about the status and promoting factors of lunch-breaks among Japanese home-delivery drivers

Abstract

Objective: The primary objective of this qualitative study was to explore the positive deviants (PDs)' characteristics of home-delivery drivers who have lunch almost every day.

Methods: We administered 40-minute individual interviews to 11 Japanese home-delivery drivers who met the qualification criteria of this study. This study was conducted from November 2016 to February 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. The drivers were asked about lunch and break time during semi-structured interviews. After conducting individual analyses, we conducted integrated analyses using the Qualitative Synthesis Method (KJ Method).

Results: PDs were having lunch every day, even if they were busy. They were choosing menu items that they were able to eat easily and quickly, such as rice-balls. Working environment also affected their lunch behavior. Three factors were emerged as promoting factors of lunch-break frequency: working skills, subjective norms regarding work, and attitude towards lunch and break time.

Conclusion: Providing tips on choosing lunch items would be supportive in promoting positive lunch habits for drivers. Further, to increase working skills, subjective norms about work and positive attitude towards lunch and break time may be important to promote healthy lunch habits for home-delivery drivers.