Anika Nitzsche

Exploring the association between social capital and depressive symptoms: results of a survey in German information and communication technology companies.

Objective: This study examines the association between social capital at work and depressive symptoms in employees. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were collected through an online survey with the full population of employees from six companies in the German information and communication technology sector (response rate: 58.4%). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Results of data from a total of 328 employees suggest that, after controlling for sociodemographic factors, health awareness, and job strain, lower levels of perceived social capital at work are associated with the experience of depressive symptoms (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.64–0.90). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that characteristics of high social capital at work, such as an established environment of trust and a sense of common values and convictions, could be an essential resource for preventing depressive disorders.

The relationship between perceived social capital and the health promotion willingness of companies: a systematic telephone survey with chief executive officers in the information and communication technology sector.

Objective: This study examines the association between perceived social capital and health promotion willingness (HPW) of companies from a chief executive officers perspective. Methods: Data for the cross-sectional study were collected through telephone interviews with one chief executive officer from randomly selected companies within the German information and communication technology sector. A hierarchical multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Results of the logistic regression analysis of data from a total of n = 522 interviews suggest that higher values of perceived social capital are associated with pronounced HPW in companies (odds ratio = 3.78; 95% confidence intervals, 2.24 to 6.37). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that characteristics of high social capital, such as an established environment of trust as well as a feeling of common values and convictions could help promote HPW.

Organizational factors and the attitude toward health promotion in German ICT-companies

This study takes a first step toward examining the relationship between organizational characteristics and the perceived attitude toward health promotion in companies from the perspective of chief executive officers (CEOs). Data for the cross-sectional study were collected through telephone interviews with one CEO from randomly selected companies within the German information and communication technology (ICT) sector. Multivariate logistic regression analysis (LRA) was performed, and further LRA was conducted after stratifying on company size. LRA of data from a total of n = 522 interviews found significant associations between the attitude toward health promotion and the companys market position, its number of hierarchical levels, the percentage of permanent positions and the percentage of employees with an academic education. After stratification on company size, the association between the attitude toward health promotion and both market position and the percentage of employees with an academic education was still present in small companies. There were no significant relationships between the attitude toward health promotion and the structural characteristics of medium-sized and large companies. The preliminary results of the study indicate that a perceived attitude toward health promotion in companies can be explained, to a certain degree, by the intraorganizational characteristics analyzed. Our key findings highlight that efforts toward establishing a positive attitude toward health promotion should focus on small companies with a lower market position and a greater number of employees with a lower education level.

The influence of transformational leadership on employee well-being: results from a survey of companies in the information and communication technology sector in Germany.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a transformational leadership style on employee well-being. Methods: Data for the study were taken from an on-line survey of all employees from six German companies in the information and communication technology sector. The data obtained were analyzed using multiple logistic regressions. Results: Analysis of data from a total of 318 employees (response rate 58.4%) revealed a significant relationship between transformational leadership and employee well-being (P = 0.00; OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.05 to 1.22). A higher degree of perceived transformational leadership is associated with greater well-being. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that a transformational leadership style, which both conveys a sense of trust and meaningfulness and individually challenges and develops employees, also has a positive effect on employee well-being.

Patients’ Trust in Physician, Patient Enablement, and Health-Related Quality of Life During Colon Cancer Treatment

In cancer care, where patients and their families experience significant emotional distress and patients have to deal with complex medical information, patient centeredness is an important aspect of quality of care. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of patients’ trust in their oncologists and patients’ enablement on changes in health-related quality of life of colon cancer patients during follow-up care. We conducted a prospective study in a representative sample of private practices of German oncologists (N = 44). Patients (N = 131) filled out a standardized questionnaire prior to their first consultation (T0), directly after the first consultation (T1) and after two months (T2). Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling. Significant associations were found between trust in physician and changes in physical functioning between T1 and T2, and between trust in physician and patient enablement. Patient enablement is significantly associated with changes in physical functioning between T1 and T2. The results underline the importance of building a close and trustful patient-physician relationship in the oncology encounter. A central mechanism of the association between the quality of the relationship and health outcomes seems to be patient enablement. To enable patients to cope with their situation by making them understand their diagnosis, treatments, and side effects can impact health-related quality of life in physical domains.

Validation of the Work-Life Balance Culture Scale (WLBCS)

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this paper is to describe the theoretical development and initial validation of the newly developed Work-Life Balance Culture Scale (WLBCS), an instrument for measuring an organizational culture that promotes the work-life balance of employees. METHODS In Study 1 (N=498), the scale was developed and its factorial validity tested through exploratory factor analyses. In Study 2 (N=513), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to examine model fit and retest the dimensional structure of the instrument. To assess construct validity, a priori hypotheses were formulated and subsequently tested using correlation analyses. RESULTS Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a one-factor model. Results of the bivariate correlation analyses may be interpreted as preliminary evidence of the scales construct validity. CONCLUSION The five-item WLBCS is a new and efficient instrument with good overall quality. Its conciseness makes it particularly suitable for use in employee surveys to gain initial insight into a companys perceived work-life balance culture.

Psychosocial factors in the information and communication technology sector

Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of psychosocial factors in the German information and communication technology (ICT) sector. Specifically, the authors seek to explore the relationships between sources of workplace social support and work engagement. Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents the results of a cross-sectional self-report online survey of 336 employees working in six information and communication technology companies in Germany. Analyses are conducted employing multiple linear regression models. Findings – Supervisor and co-worker support showed discrete effects on work engagement components (vigour, dedication, absorption). Overall, supervisor support showed a stronger association with work engagement than co-worker support among ICT employees. Originality/value – This paper makes a contribution to the further understanding of the relationship of psychosocial factors, particularly sources of social support and employee engagement, in the context of ICT ind...

Recovery opportunities, work–home conflict, and emotional exhaustion among hematologists and oncologists in private practice

Abstract Hematologists and oncologists in private practice play a central role in the care provided for cancer patients. The present study analyzes stress and relaxation aspects in the work of hematologists and oncologists in private practice in Germany in relation to emotional exhaustion, as a core dimension of burnout syndrome. The study focuses on the opportunities for internal recovery using breaks and time out during the working day, the frequency of working on weekends and on vacation, and the physician’s work–home and home–work conflict. Postulated associations between the constructs were analyzed using a structural equation model. If work leads to conflicts in private life (work–home conflict), it is associated with greater emotional exhaustion. Working frequently at the weekend is associated with greater work–home conflict and indirectly with greater emotional exhaustion. By contrast, the availability of opportunities to relax and recover during the working day is associated with less work–home conflict and indirectly with less emotional exhaustion. These results underline the importance of internal recovery opportunities during the working day and a successful interplay between working and private life for the health of outpatient hematologists and oncologists.

Volume, size, professionals' specialization and nutrition management of NICUs and their association with treatment quality in VLBW infants

ObjectiveTo assess the association of volume, size, the availability of highly-specialized professionals and nutrition management of NICUs with treatment quality among VLBW infants.Study designA prospective multicenter study of 923 VLBW infants in 66 German NICUs, born between May and October 2013. Using multilevel modeling, we examined the association between the aforementioned organizational characteristics and treatment quality, measured via major morbidities (severe IVH, PVL, BPD, NEC, FIP, ROP, and discharge without severe complications) and medical process measures of VLBW infants.ResultsAfter risk-adjustment and accounting for other NICU characteristics, infants in low-volume NICUs were at higher risk of IVH, ROP and PVL. However, the initial effect of volume on process measures (growth velocity, administration of antenatal steroids) disappeared.ConclusionVolume can only partially explain differences in the treatment quality of VLBWs. The underlying organizational mechanisms should be considered to improve the quality of care.

Exploring the differential impact of individual and organizational factors on organizational commitment of physicians and nurses

BackgroundPhysician and nursing shortages in acute and critical care settings require research on factors which might drive their commitment, an important predictor of absenteeism and turnover. However, the degree to which the commitment of a physician or a nurse is driven by individual or organizational characteristics in hospitals remains unclear. In addition, there is a need for a greater understanding of how antecedent-commitment relationships differ between both occupational groups.Based on recent findings in the literature and the results of a pilot study, we investigate the degree to which selected individual and organizational characteristics might enhance an employee’s affective commitment working in the field of neonatal intensive care. Moreover, our aim is to examine the different antecedent-commitment relationships across the occupational groups of nurses and physicians.MethodsInformation about individual factors affecting organizational commitment was derived from self-administered staff questionnaires, while additional information about organizational structures was taken from hospital quality reports and a self-administered survey completed by hospital department heads. Overall, 1486 nurses and 540 physicians from 66 Neonatal Intensive Care Units participated in the study. We used multilevel modeling to account for different levels of analysis.ResultsAlthough organizational characteristics can explain differences in an employee’s commitment, the differences can be largely explained by his or her individual characteristics and work experiences. Regarding occupational differences, individual support by leaders and colleagues was shown to influence organizational commitment more strongly in the physicians’ group. In contrast, the degree of autonomy in the units and perceived quality of care had a larger impact on the nurses’ organizational commitment.ConclusionsWith the growing number of hospitals facing an acute shortage of highly-skilled labor, effective strategies on the individual and organizational levels have to be considered to enhance an employee’s commitment to his or her organization. Regarding occupational differences in antecedent-commitment relationships, more specific management actions should be undertaken to correspond to different needs and aspirations of nurses and physicians.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00004589, date of trial registration: 15.05.2013).