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Dalgaard VL, Gayed A, Hansen AKL, Grytnes R, Nielsen K, Kirkegaard T, Uldall L, Ingerslev K, Skakon J, Jacobsen CB. A study protocol outlining the development and evaluation of a training program for frontline managers on leading well-being and the psychosocial work environment in Danish hospital settings - a cluster randomized waitlist controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:848. [PMID: 37165331 PMCID: PMC10170839 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15728-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital staff are often exposed to stressful psychosocial working conditions and report high levels of stress and burnout, which may negatively impact the safety of employees and patients. Managers hold unique knowledge of workplace conditions and needs of employees, but leadership interventions to improve the well-being of managers and employees in hospital settings are scarce. This study evaluates the effects of a leadership intervention based on a health-oriented leadership approach on the well-being and psychosocial work environment aspects of managers and employees. METHODS/DESIGN The study is designed as a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with two groups (intervention and waitlist control group) and measurements at baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-up. We aim to include 200 frontline managers in Danish hospital settings and their approximately 5,000 employees. The leadership training comprises five full day modules and four smaller group-training sessions over a period of 5 months. The main aim is to improve stress, burnout, self-care, and perceived level of staff-care among managers and employees. Sickness absence will also be assessed at both manager and employee level. In addition, several psychosocial factors will be assessed at the employee level. A quantitative and qualitative process evaluation will also be conducted. DISCUSSION Action towards supporting the mental health of hospital employees is important to maintain a strong healthcare system. There is increasing recognition that best practice in workplace mental health requires an integrated approach that prevents harm and promotes positive mental health. There is also increasing understanding of the key role managers' play in maintaining well-being within the workplace, however they often report a lack of knowledge and skills to promote employee mental health. The current leadership training program has been developed for frontline managers working in a hospital setting. The aim is to increase managers' application of strategies to facilitate a healthy psychosocial work environment to benefit well-being and mental health among staff and managers themselves. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study was retrospectively registered on November 21, 2022 in Clinical Trial.gov with identifier: NCT05623371.
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Affiliation(s)
- V L Dalgaard
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 9, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
- Crown Prince Frederik Center for Public Leadership, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 7, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - A Gayed
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Hospital Road, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - A K L Hansen
- Crown Prince Frederik Center for Public Leadership, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 7, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - R Grytnes
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Danish Ramazzini Centre, University Research Clinic, Regional Hospital Goedstrup, Moellegade 16, 7400, Herning, Denmark
| | - K Nielsen
- Sheffield University Management School, The University of Sheffield, Conduit Road, Sheffield, S10 1FL, UK
| | - T Kirkegaard
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 9, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - L Uldall
- Central Denmark Region, Corporate Human Resource Development, Oluf Palmes Allé 32, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - K Ingerslev
- Central Denmark Region, Corporate Human Resource Development, Oluf Palmes Allé 32, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - J Skakon
- Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2a, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - C B Jacobsen
- Crown Prince Frederik Center for Public Leadership, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 7, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
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