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Abdillah A, Widianingsih I, Buchari RA, Nurasa H. What can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic? Health distress on workers' mentality and worker resilience. J Public Health (Oxf) 2024:fdae176. [PMID: 39101523 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdae176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Abdillah Abdillah
- Department of Public Administration, Graduate Program in Administrative Science, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Bukit Dago Utara No. 25, Dago, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40135, Indonesia
- Center for Decentralization & Participatory Development Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Bukit Dago Utara No. 25, Dago, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40135, Indonesia
| | - Ida Widianingsih
- Center for Decentralization & Participatory Development Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Bukit Dago Utara No. 25, Dago, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40135, Indonesia
- Department of Public Administration, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Bukit Dago Utara No. 25, Dago, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40135, Indonesia
| | - Rd Ahmad Buchari
- Center for Decentralization & Participatory Development Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Bukit Dago Utara No. 25, Dago, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40135, Indonesia
- Department of Public Administration, Department of Public Administration, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Bukit Dago Utara No. 25, Dago, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40135, Indonesia
| | - Heru Nurasa
- Center for Decentralization & Participatory Development Research, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jl. Bukit Dago Utara No. 25, Dago, Kecamatan Coblong, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40135, Indonesia
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Rohwer E, Harth V, Mache S. "The magic triangle between bed, office, couch": a qualitative exploration of job demands, resources, coping, and the role of leadership in remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:476. [PMID: 38360605 PMCID: PMC10868004 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-17995-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated many employees to work from home with immediate effect for several months, regardless of their workplace preference or situation at home. Against this backdrop, this study explores perceived job demands and resources as well as the role of leadership and coping strategies of employees and managers with little or no prior experience with working from home in the altered work environment. METHODS Based on the job demands-resources model, we developed an interview guide and conducted thirty-four semi-structured interviews. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed deductively-inductively using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS Experienced job demands include, e.g., challenging, insufficient digital communication, and lack of social exchange, while greater flexibility and work-life balance were identified as valuable resources. Regarding the role of leadership, signaling trust, keeping regular contact, and supporting employees are important. To cope with the unforeseen yet persistent work situation, participants applied creative strategies by setting up offices at home with what they had at disposal. Differences were observed between employee and managerial perceptions as well as over time during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The results expand our knowledge about healthy remote work by adding specific demands, resources, and coping strategies employees and managers experienced during the extreme situation of the COVID-19 pandemic to the picture as well as specifying the role of leadership. Moreover, our findings provide a foundation for guidelines for healthy remote work design and collaboration in times of abrupt change and crises.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Rohwer
- Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Volker Harth
- Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Mache
- Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine (ZfAM), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
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Brown-Johnson C, DeShields C, McCaa M, Connell N, Giannitrapani SN, Thanassi W, Yano EM, Singer SJ, Lorenz KA, Giannitrapani K. Qualitative interview study of strategies to support healthcare personnel mental health through an occupational health lens. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e075920. [PMID: 38216178 PMCID: PMC10806949 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Employee Occupational Health ('occupational health') clinicians have expansive perspectives of the experience of healthcare personnel. Integrating mental health into the purview of occupational health is a newer approach that could combat historical limitations of healthcare personnel mental health programmes, which have been isolated and underused. OBJECTIVE We aimed to document innovation and opportunities for supporting healthcare personnel mental health through occupational health clinicians. This work was part of a national qualitative needs assessment of employee occupational health clinicians during COVID-19 who were very much at the centre of organisational responses. DESIGN This qualitative needs assessment included key informant interviews obtained using snowball sampling methods. PARTICIPANTS We interviewed 43 US Veterans Health Administration occupational health clinicians from 29 facilities. APPROACH This analysis focused on personnel mental health needs and opportunities, using consensus coding of interview transcripts and modified member checking. KEY RESULTS Three major opportunities to support mental health through occupational health involved: (1) expanded mental health needs of healthcare personnel, including opportunities to support work-related concerns (eg, traumatic deployments), home-based concerns and bereavement (eg, working with chaplains); (2) leveraging expanded roles and protocols to address healthcare personnel mental health concerns, including opportunities in expanding occupational health roles, cross-disciplinary partnerships (eg, with employee assistance programmes (EAP)) and process/protocol (eg, acute suicidal ideation pathways) and (3) need for supporting occupational health clinicians' own mental health, including opportunities to address overwork/burn-out with adequate staffing/resources. CONCLUSIONS Occupational health can enact strategies to support personnel mental health: to structurally sustain attention, use social cognition tools (eg, suicidality protocols or expanded job descriptions); to leverage distributed attention, enhance interdisciplinary collaboration (eg, chaplains for bereavement support or EAP) and to equip systems with resources and allow for flexibility during crises, including increased staffing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cati Brown-Johnson
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - Matthew McCaa
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California, USA
| | | | - Susan N Giannitrapani
- Employee Occupational Health, Wilmington VA Medical Center, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - Wendy Thanassi
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Occupational Health Service, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Yano
- Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sara J Singer
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Karl A Lorenz
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Karleen Giannitrapani
- Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, California, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Yi H, Wei S, Song J, Xiao M, Huang H, Luo D, Zhao Q. Analysis of influencing factors of job demands of healthcare workers working in mobile cabin hospitals in China. Nurs Open 2023; 10:7368-7381. [PMID: 37705181 PMCID: PMC10563416 DOI: 10.1002/nop2.1991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To explore the job demands of healthcare workers (HCWs) working in mobile cabin hospitals in Shanghai and identify the influencing factors. DESIGN The study had a cross-sectional design. METHODS Using the convenience sampling method, we selected 1223 HCWs (medical team members) working in these mobile cabin hospitals during April-May 2022. The findings of the general information questionnaire and the hierarchy scale of job demands of HCWs working in mobile cabin hospitals were used for the investigation. RESULTS The total score of job demands of the included HCWs was 132.26 ± 9.53; the average score of the items was 4.73 ± 0.34. Multivariate linear regression analyses showed that the following HCWs had significantly higher job demands: female HCWs and HCWs who received psychological training or intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic, were satisfied with the doctor/nurse-patient relationship, received support from family members/friends/colleagues, believed that the risk of working in mobile cabin hospitals was high, had adapted to the working environment of mobile cabin hospitals and had college/undergraduate level of education. They would benefit from increased social support and better training in terms of psychological coping mechanisms(both theoretical knowledge and applicable skills) and COVID-19 prevention,control and treatment abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Yi
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Sha Wei
- Department of PsychiatryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Jingyan Song
- Department of NursingThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Mingzhao Xiao
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Huanhuan Huang
- Department of NursingThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Di Luo
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Qinghua Zhao
- Department of NursingThe First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
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Dignos PN, Khan A, Gardiner-Davis M, Papadopoulos A, Nowrouzi-Kia B, Sivanthan M, Gohar B. Hidden and Understaffed: Exploring Canadian Medical Laboratory Technologists' Pandemic Stressors and Lessons Learned. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:2736. [PMID: 37893810 PMCID: PMC10606905 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11202736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role of medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) in the healthcare system. Little is known about the challenges MLTs faced in keeping up with the unprecedented demands posed by the pandemic, which contributed to the notable staff shortage in the profession. This study aims to identify and understand the stressors of MLTs in Canada and the lessons learned through their lived experiences during the pandemic. (2) Methods: In this descriptive qualitative study, we conducted five semi-structured focus groups with MLTs working during the pandemic. The focus group sessions were audio-recorded and then transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to inductively code data and identify themes. (3) Results: A total of 27 MLTs across Canada participated in the study. Findings highlighted four key themes: (i) unexpected challenges navigating through the uncertainties of an ever-evolving pandemic; (ii) implications of staff shortage for the well-being of MLTs and quality of patient care; (iii) revealing the realities of the hidden, yet indispensable role of MLTs in predominantly non-patient-facing roles; and (iv) leveraging insights from the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance healthcare practices and preparedness. (4) Conclusion: The study provides in-depth insight into the experiences of MLTs across Canada during the pandemic. Based on our findings, we provide recommendations to enhance the sustainability of the laboratory workforce and ensure preparedness and resiliency among MLTs for future public health emergencies, as well as considerations as to combating the critical staff shortage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ayesha Khan
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | - Andrew Papadopoulos
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia
- Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada
- Centre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Myuri Sivanthan
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Basem Gohar
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
- Centre for Research in Occupational Safety & Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
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Schmidt-Stiedenroth K, Guthardt L, Genrich M, Köhne M, Stiawa M, Erschens R, Junne F, Maatouk I, Gündel H, Angerer P, Müller A. What helps hospital staff in times of crisis: qualitative results of a survey on psychosocial resources and stressors in German hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1260079. [PMID: 37869202 PMCID: PMC10585258 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1260079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital workers faced a tremendous workload. The pandemic led to different and additional strain that negatively affected the well-being of employees. This study aims to explore psychosocial resources and strategies that were used by hospital staff. Methods In the context of an intervention study, employees of three German hospitals were questioned in writing in summer and fall 2020. Five open-ended questions about the pandemic were asked to capture corresponding effects on daily work routine. Answers of 303 participants were evaluated using structuring qualitative content analysis. Results Significant stressors and resources were identified in the areas of work content and task, social relations at work, organization of work, work environment and individual aspects. Stressors included, for example, emotional demands, conflicts, an increased workload, time and performance pressure. Important resources mentioned were, among others, the exchange with colleagues and mutual support. Sound information exchange, clear processes and guidelines and a positive work atmosphere were also important. In addition, the private environment and a positive mindset were perceived as helpful. Conclusion This study contributes to a differentiated understanding of existing psychosocial resources of hospital staff in times of crisis. Identifying and strengthening these resources could reduce stress and improve well-being, making hospital staff better prepared for both normal operations and further crisis situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira Schmidt-Stiedenroth
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lisa Guthardt
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Melanie Genrich
- Institute of Psychology, Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Mara Köhne
- Institute of Psychology, Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Maja Stiawa
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Rebecca Erschens
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Florian Junne
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- University Hospital for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Imad Maatouk
- Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Harald Gündel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter Angerer
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Müller
- Institute of Psychology, Work and Organizational Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
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Björk L, Corin L, Akerstrom M, Jonsdottir IH, Innocenti AD, Wijk H, Ahlstrom L. Under pressure - The working situation of Swedish healthcare managers during the first wave of COVID-19. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1052382. [PMID: 36710753 PMCID: PMC9874142 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1052382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The aim of this study is to provide insight into the psychosocial work situation of hospital managers during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Mixed-effect modelling was used on survey data on job demands, job resources, job motivation, and work-life balance among over 500 managers working in 55 departments of a large Swedish university hospital in 2019 and 2020. Responses from 6011 employees were then used to stratify the analysis for COVID-19 exposure. Inductive content analysis was applied to open-ended questions on the managers' views on organisational prerequisites during the onset of the pandemic. Results The proportion of managers reporting difficulties with role clarity, quantitative demands, decision-making authority, and emotional support, time for recovery at work, motivation deficits, or problems with work-life balance clearly increased during the first wave of the pandemic. The proportion of managers reporting negative responses was higher in departments with high COVID-19 exposure. The qualitative analysis shows that overall governance in terms of clear, fair, and well-communicated routines, resource allocation, and division of responsibilities constituted an important framework for managerial during the crisis. First-line managers also require a mandate to re-organize their roles and their teams to successfully adapt to the situation. Organisational and social support was also important resources. Discussion This is the first study investigating healthcare managers' work situation during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in a Swedish context. As expected, it indicates an increasingly strained work situation during the crisis, but it also provides findings on organisational prerequisites that allow healthcare managers to cope with stressful situations. In line with previous research on organisational resilience, the study provides suggestions for how higher-level managers can act in order to provide front-line managers with the organisational prerequisites they need to adapt, learn and develop successfully during times of unpredictability, insecurity, and rapid change in order to offer the best possible support to health care workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Björk
- Region Västra Götaland, Institute of Stress Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Sociology and Work Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,*Correspondence: Lisa Björk, ✉
| | - Linda Corin
- Region Västra Götaland, Institute of Stress Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Sociology and Work Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Magnus Akerstrom
- Region Västra Götaland, Institute of Stress Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden,School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir
- Region Västra Götaland, Institute of Stress Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden,School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Alessio Degl Innocenti
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Centre for Ethics, Law and Mental Health (CELAM), Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothia Forum for Clinical Trials, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Helle Wijk
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Quality Strategies, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Linda Ahlstrom
- Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Orthopedics, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Andersone N, Nardelli G, Ipsen C, Edwards K. Exploring Managerial Job Demands and Resources in Transition to Distance Management: A Qualitative Danish Case Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:69. [PMID: 36612399 PMCID: PMC9819480 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Organizations worldwide have shifted to working from home, requiring managers to engage in distance management using information and communication technologies (ICT). Studies show that managers experience high job demands and inadequate guidance during COVID-19; therefore, the transition to distance management raises questions about the increase in managerial job demands and the impact on managers' well-being. This study aims to explore first-line managers' perceptions of job demands and available resources during the first year of the pandemic and understand the implications for first-line managers' well-being. First-line managers face complex and conflicting demands, making them more challenged in their management task than other management levels. We used the job demands-resources model in this qualitative, longitudinal empirical study. The study draws on 49 semi-structured interviews with seven first-line managers from a large pharmaceutical company in Denmark, whom we followed throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, from May 2020 to May 2021. Our findings suggest that the first-line managers perceived increased emotional and practical demands. While the managers appreciated the initial guidance provided by the organization, they perceived the organizational support as outdated and superficial. As a result, to cope with the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and the shift to distance management, the managers relied on work engagement enablers such as social support. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic portrays unique circumstances in transitioning to distance management that require further exploration outside the COVID-19 context, the insights from this study can assist organizations in developing awareness about transitions to better support first-line management to embrace changes in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelda Andersone
- DTU Management Department, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Christine Ipsen
- DTU Management Department, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kasper Edwards
- DTU Management Department, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Innstrand ST, Christensen M, Grødal K, Banks C. Within- and between-person changes in work practice and experiences due to COVID-19: Lessons learned from employees working from home, hybrid working, and working at the office. Front Psychol 2022; 13:948516. [PMID: 36619129 PMCID: PMC9812551 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.948516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In response to the requirement of keeping social distance during the COVID-19 outbreak a lot of employees needed to change from a regular office to a home-office at short notice. The aim of the present study is to explore these employees' experiences and evaluate changes in their work situation during the pandemic. Method A mixed-method design was used with panel data collected twice in an insurance company in Norway. The first dataset was collected in December 2020 (Time 1; N = 558), with a follow up in March 2021 (Time 2; N = 601). Results Our study indicated that employees' main reasons for working from home were to keep social distance, avoid contagion and protect their loved ones. Flexibility, timesaving and more time with family and friends were also motivators. Most employees reported that they had the necessary technical equipment to work from home and wanted more opportunity to use their home office in the future. General Linear Models (GLM) indicated that work-family balance and workload were the same across age, gender, and worksites. Women and employees working from home reported more fear of being infected by COVID-19 at work. Younger employees reported experiencing less social contact with colleagues than normal during the pandemic, compared to the older employees. Overall, employees working at home were more positive toward digital solutions and digital meetings than those at the office. Repeated measures MANOVA showed that the work motivation and digital competence decreased over time for all worksites. Productivity increased for home-office employees but decreased for the hybrid and work-office employees. Discussion This paper contributes to knowledge of employees' experiences with different worksite solutions, which will be useful for anticipating employees experience in the future with more hybrid work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siw Tone Innstrand
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Marit Christensen
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Karoline Grødal
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Cristina Banks
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
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Innstrand ST. Burnout among Health Care Professionals during COVID-19. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11807. [PMID: 36142075 PMCID: PMC9517455 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The present study examined organizational, situational (i.e., COVID-19-related), and psychological factors associated with burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic among 268 health care professionals in Norway. A total burnout score based on the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT), the four core BAT subscales (i.e., Exhaustion, Mental Distance, Cognitive Impairment, and Emotional Impairment), and the COVID-19 Burnout Scale served as the dependent variable. Among the results, organizational factors such as work-home conflict, workload, and role conflict were positively related to burnout. Although autonomy and colleague support were negatively related to burnout, support from leaders was positively related to it, which might suggest a suppressive effect. Organizational factors explained most of the variance in general burnout (i.e., BAT Total), whereas situational (i.e., COVID-19-related) factors (e.g., involvement with COVID-19, fear of COVID-19, and COVID-19-induced stress) seemed to better explain COVID-19 burnout. COVID-19-oriented actions were related only to Mental Distance. Psychological factors such as meaning were negatively related to BAT Total, Exhaustion, and Mental Distance, whereas a breach of the psychological contract was related to all subscales. Such results suggest that organizational and situational factors contribute differently to general and COVID-19 burnout and that administering pandemic-specific assessment tools can clarify how the pandemic has affected mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siw Tone Innstrand
- Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
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Nurses’ Work Environment during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Person-Centred Practice—A Systematic Review. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14105785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The work environment and especially the psychosocial work environment influence the mental and physical well-being of employees. The aim of this study was to identify and analyse the state of knowledge regarding nurses’ work situation, health, and person-centred work during the COVID-19 pandemic through a systematic review. Methods: Systematic Review, nine included articles. The theoretical swAge model was used as the framework in a deductive content analysis. Results: The result was presented in the nine determinate areas from the swAge model and showed that all nine determinate areas of the swAge model were of importance to both the nurses’ sustainable work situation during the COVID-19 pandemic and to person-centred care. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on nurses’ health, both physically but especially psychologically, with high levels of depression, anxiety, and burnout. Nurses experienced a lack of control and support from organizations. They had to work with limited resources and sometimes care for patients beyond their expertise. Conclusion: There is a further need for more studies that address person-centredness from an organisational perspective with the intention to develop strategies and measure activities on how to make the nurses’ work situation more sustainable, and to increase their ability to give more person-centred care.
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The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System Intervention to Reduce Employee Work-Related Stress and Enhance Work Performance. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042431. [PMID: 35206615 PMCID: PMC8874651 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background: The study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of the Productivity Measurement and Enhancement System (ProMes) intervention to reduce employee work-related stress and enhance work performance. Methods: A prospective cohort study was used to undertake the evaluation from a business perspective. Objective workload data and stress were gathered repeatedly over a 17-month period (i.e., before and after intervention). Independent t-test and an interrupted time series (ITS) analysis were used in the analysis. The average cost-effectiveness ratio (ACER) was calculated as a ratio of the average cost of the intervention and the effect sizes of the different outcomes to reflect the average cost per clinician for each unit change in outcome. Results: Based on the results of the ITS analysis, an expenditure of EUR 41,487 was linked with no change in stress levels, according to the ACER for stress. In addition, the expenditures associated with each unit change were EUR 3319 for overall tasks per hour worked, EUR 2761 for visits per hour worked, EUR 2880 for administrative tasks, but EUR 9123 for answering phone calls. Conclusions: ProMes is not cost–effective in terms of work-related stress levels, but the intervention seemed to have increased efficiency in some objective work performance measures, albeit at a relatively high extra cost.
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Guidetti G, Converso D, Sanseverino D, Ghislieri C. Return to Work during the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Study on the Role of Job Demands, Job Resources, and Personal Resources upon the Administrative Staff of Italian Public Universities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19041995. [PMID: 35206184 PMCID: PMC8872050 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19041995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background: Compared to healthcare workers and teleworkers, occupational wellbeing of employees who continued or suddenly returned to work during the COVID-19 pandemic have received less attention thus far. Using the Job Demand–Resource model as a framework, the present study aimed at evaluating the role of job demands and job and personal resources in affecting emotional exhaustion among university administrative staff. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data collected through an online questionnaire completed by 364 administrative employees that continued working in presence (WP) and 1578 that continued working blended (WB), namely, partly remotely and partly in presence. Results: Among job demands, quantitative job demand overloads and perceived risk of being infected were positively associated with higher levels of emotional exhaustion. Among job resources, colleague support was significantly associated with lower emotional exhaustion for both WB and WP, whereas supervisor support and fatigue management were salient only for WB. Among personal resources, personal contribution in managing COVID-19-related risk at work emerged as a protective factor for emotional exhaustion. Conclusion: Insights for the development of targeted preventive measure for a more psychologically safe and productive return to work can be derived from these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Guidetti
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Health and Territory, University of G. d’Annunzio Chieti and Pescara, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Daniela Converso
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy; (D.S.); (C.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Domenico Sanseverino
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy; (D.S.); (C.G.)
| | - Chiara Ghislieri
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Via Verdi 10, 10124 Turin, Italy; (D.S.); (C.G.)
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