Mental Vitality @ Work.

Rationale:

Employees in the health care service are at high risk to develop common mental health complaints. These can negatively affect work functioning, with possible serious consequences for the quality of care. It is crucial to keep health care workers vital and productive. Therefore, preventive actions are necessary to promote and monitor good health and work performance.



Objective:

The aim of this study is to test the effectiveness of a Workers’ Health Surveillance (WHS) mental module for nurses and allied health professionals. Two procedures for the intervention part of this WHS mental module will be compared. As a secondary objective the cost effectiveness from a societal perspective will be studied.



Study design:

The study is a cluster randomized controlled trial design with three arms, a control arm (group 1), a detection arm plus care as usual (group 2), a detection arm plus e-health intervention (group 3). A comparison between group 1 and 2 will be referred to as Part 1, a comparison between group 2 and group 3 will be referred to as Part 2. The study will include three measurement points, a baseline measure and follow-up at three and at six months. Measurements take place by filling out online questionnaires.



Study population:

The study population consists of nurses and allied health professionals in an Academic Medical Center.



Intervention:

In the first intervention arm (group 2), participants are invited to complete an assessment to detect problems in mental health and work functioning; in case any impairments in mental health and/or work functioning are detected, a consult with an occupational physician is offered, based on care as usual following professional guidelines. In the second intervention arm (group 3), participants are invited to complete the same assessment to detect problems in mental health and work functioning. Subsequently, depending on their mental health state and work functioning, an individual tailored e-health intervention is offered.



Main study parameters:

The primary study parameter for Part 1 is help-seeking-behaviour. It regards adequate help sources which the subject has used during the past three months.

The primary outcome measure of Part 2 is impaired work functioning, operationalized as job-specific impairments in work functioning.



Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness:

Participants of all study arms have to fill out online questionnaires at three measurement points (30 minutes in total). In group 2, participants with common mental health complaints and/or impaired work functioning will be invited for a voluntary consult with an occupational physician. In group 3, participants will be offered to follow one or more specified self-help e-health interventions to improve their mental health status, varying in time consumption (1-3 hours per week). There are no risks associated with participating in the study.

Employees in the health care service are at high risk to develop common mental health complaints. These can negatively affect work functioning, with possible serious consequences for the quality of care. It is crucial to keep health care workers vital and productive. Therefore, preventive actions are necessary to promote and monitor good health and work performance.

The aim of this study is to test the effectiveness of a Workers’ Health Surveillance (WHS) mental module for nurses and allied health professionals. Two procedures for this WHS mental module will be compared to each other and a control group. As a secondary objective the cost effectiveness from a societal perspective will be studied.

Baseline, follow-up at 3 and 6 months after baseline.

1. In the first intervention arm, participants are invited to complete an assessment to detect problems in mental health and work functioning; in case any impairments in mental health and/or work functioning are detected, a consult with an occupational physician is offered, based on care as usual following professional guidelines;

2. In the second intervention arm, participants are invited to complete an assessment to detect problems in mental health and work functioning. Subsequently, depending on their mental health state and work functioning, an individual tailored e-health intervention is offered. The five e-health interventions that can be offered are:

A. ‘Psyfit’: Aimed at well-being. It is suitable for everyone, including healthy participants;

B. ‘Sterk op je werk’: Aimed at reducing distress at work;

C. ‘Kleur je leven’: Aimed at reducing depressive symptoms;

D. ‘Geen paniek online’: Aimed at reducing panic symptoms;

E. ‘Minder drinken’: Aimed at reducing risky drinking behaviour.

The e-health interventions have been developed by the Trimbos-institute.