Joint Training of Healthcare Managers and Health and Safety Representatives in Supporting Occupational Health Interventions: A Feasibility Evaluation of the Co-pilot Project

Alexander Agrell*, Johan Simonsen Abildgaard, Susanne Tafvelin, Jens Wahlström, Robert Lundmark

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference abstract in proceedingsResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Healthcare employees are at an increasing rate experiencing poor well-being. For a long time, the healthcare workforce has been exposed to a high workload, a situation which has worsened during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. In turn, the exposure to these high demands contributes to ill-health, increased turnover, job dissatisfaction, and reduced efficacy, as well as reduced patient satisfaction and safety. Therefore, it is imperative that we identify measures to mitigate these risks, where one piece of this puzzle is to find sustainable tools to improve the work environment of healthcare organizations. In this study we will present the results from an ongoing piloting of a joint training for pairs of healthcare line managers and their associated health and safety representatives in a Swedish healthcare organization. The aim of the training being to support their implementation of interventions to improve the work environment at a unit level. Following recommendations in the literature, the training is based on a stepwise approach that considers the specific healthcare context and focuses on involvement of employees to create interventions based on their needs. A central component of the training is the development of the pairs’ collaboration in initiating and implementing interventions. The training is based on an on-the-job train-the-
trainer approach in which participants during four workshops are progressively trained in the different steps of a participatory intervention process. In-between these workshops the pairs follow the same progressive steps together with their employees to implement interventions at their unit.

The overall aim of the pilot is to evaluate its feasibility. The aim is also to be able to adjust the training before a potential scale-up. The pilot involves four pairs (i.e., eight participants) representing different parts and functions of a healthcare organization in northern Sweden and takes place over a period of three months. A mixed method design is used to evaluate pre-conditions, the training process, and proximal transfer- and implementation outcomes of the training. We will present experiences from the training, the results of the evaluation and suggestions on how to adapt the program based on these results.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBook of Proceedings : 16th Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology: Contributions of OHP to Social Justice
EditorsFiona Frost, Kevin Teoh, France St-Hilaire, Alice Denman, Caleb Leduc, Miguel Muñoz, Daniel Ripa
Number of pages1
Place of PublicationNottingham
PublisherEuropean Academy of Occupational Health Psychology
Publication date2024
Article numberS156
ISBN (Electronic)9780992878672
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Event16th Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. EAOHP 2024 - University of Granada, Faculty of Science, Granada, Spain
Duration: 5 Jun 20247 Jun 2024
Conference number: 16
https://eaohp.org/eaohp_2024/

Conference

Conference16th Conference of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology. EAOHP 2024
Number16
LocationUniversity of Granada, Faculty of Science
Country/TerritorySpain
CityGranada
Period05/06/202407/06/2024
Internet address

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