TY - JOUR
T1 - Cluster-randomised trial evaluating a complex intervention to improve mental health and well-being of employees working in hospital - A protocol for the SEEGEN trial
AU - Mulfinger, Nadine
AU - Sander, Anja
AU - Stuber, Felicitas
AU - Brinster, Regina
AU - Junne, Florian
AU - Limprecht, Ronald
AU - Jarczok, Marc N.
AU - Seifried-Dübon, Tanja
AU - Rieger, Monika A.
AU - Zipfel, Stephan
AU - Peters, Martin
AU - Stiawa, Maja
AU - Maatouk, Imad
AU - Helaß, Madeleine
AU - Nikendei, Christoph
AU - Rothermund, Eva
AU - Hander, Nicole
AU - Ziegenhain, Ute
AU - Gulde, Manuela
AU - Genrich, Melanie
AU - Worringer, Britta
AU - Küllenberg, Janna
AU - Blum, Karl
AU - Süß, Stefan
AU - Gesang, Elena
AU - Ruhle, Sascha
AU - Greinacher, Anja
AU - Bikowski, Kirsten
AU - Born, Marieke
AU - Drews, Antonia
AU - Hermeling, Lina
AU - Puschner, Bernd
AU - Tsarouha, Elena
AU - Jerg-Bretzke, Lucia
AU - Kieser, Meinhard
AU - Müller, Andreas
AU - Schweitzer-Rothers, Jochen
AU - Angerer, Peter
AU - Gündel, Harald
N1 - Funding Information:
This project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The BMBF has not had any role in the design of the study as outlined in this protocol and will not have a role in data collection, analysis of data, interpretation of data and dissemination of findings. The work of the Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital of Tuebingen, Germany is supported by an unrestricted grant of the employers' association of the metal and electric industry Baden-W rttemberg (S dwestmetall).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Author(s).
PY - 2019/12/17
Y1 - 2019/12/17
N2 - Background: Health care employees in Germany and worldwide are exposed to a variety of stressors. However, most of the hospitals in Germany lack a systematic workplace health management. Thus, this study aims at the evaluation of the effects of a behavioural as well as organisational (complex) intervention on the mental health and well-being of hospital staff. Methods: Mental health in the hospital workplace (SEElische GEsundheit am Arbeitsplatz KrankeNhaus - SEEGEN) is an unblinded, multi-centred cluster-randomised open trial with two groups (intervention group (IG) and waitlist control group (CG)). Study participants in the intervention clusters will receive the complex intervention; study participants in the waitlist control clusters will receive the complex intervention after the last follow-up measurement. The intervention consists of five behavioural and organisational intervention modules that are specifically tailored to hospital employees at different hierarchical and functional levels. Hospital staff may select one specific module according to their position and specific needs or interests. Towards the end of the intervention roundtable discussions with representatives from all professional groups will be held to facilitate organisational change. Primary outcome is the change in emotional and cognitive strain in the working environment, from baseline (T0) to 6 month-follow up (T1), between IG and CG. In addition, employees who do not participate in the modules are included in the trial by answering shorter questionnaires (cluster participants). Furthermore, using mixed methods, a process evaluation will identify uptake of the intervention, and mediators and moderators of the effect. Discussion: There seems to be growing psychological strain on people working in the health care sector worldwide. This study will examine whether investing directly in the hospital staff and their interpersonal relationship may lead to measurable benefits in subjective well-being at the workplace and improved economic performance indicators of the hospital. In case of a positive outcome, health promotion strategies looking at behavioural as well as organisational components within the hospital may gain additional importance, especially in regard of the growing financial pressure within the health sector.
AB - Background: Health care employees in Germany and worldwide are exposed to a variety of stressors. However, most of the hospitals in Germany lack a systematic workplace health management. Thus, this study aims at the evaluation of the effects of a behavioural as well as organisational (complex) intervention on the mental health and well-being of hospital staff. Methods: Mental health in the hospital workplace (SEElische GEsundheit am Arbeitsplatz KrankeNhaus - SEEGEN) is an unblinded, multi-centred cluster-randomised open trial with two groups (intervention group (IG) and waitlist control group (CG)). Study participants in the intervention clusters will receive the complex intervention; study participants in the waitlist control clusters will receive the complex intervention after the last follow-up measurement. The intervention consists of five behavioural and organisational intervention modules that are specifically tailored to hospital employees at different hierarchical and functional levels. Hospital staff may select one specific module according to their position and specific needs or interests. Towards the end of the intervention roundtable discussions with representatives from all professional groups will be held to facilitate organisational change. Primary outcome is the change in emotional and cognitive strain in the working environment, from baseline (T0) to 6 month-follow up (T1), between IG and CG. In addition, employees who do not participate in the modules are included in the trial by answering shorter questionnaires (cluster participants). Furthermore, using mixed methods, a process evaluation will identify uptake of the intervention, and mediators and moderators of the effect. Discussion: There seems to be growing psychological strain on people working in the health care sector worldwide. This study will examine whether investing directly in the hospital staff and their interpersonal relationship may lead to measurable benefits in subjective well-being at the workplace and improved economic performance indicators of the hospital. In case of a positive outcome, health promotion strategies looking at behavioural as well as organisational components within the hospital may gain additional importance, especially in regard of the growing financial pressure within the health sector.
KW - Cluster-randomised controlled trial; waitlist control
KW - Complex intervention
KW - Health care workers
KW - Hospital
KW - Mental health
KW - Well-being
KW - Work-related psychological stress and strain
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85076861241&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-019-7909-4
DO - 10.1186/s12889-019-7909-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 31847898
AN - SCOPUS:85076861241
SN - 1471-2458
VL - 19
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
IS - 1
M1 - 1694
ER -