C.R.L. Boot

Effectiveness of a worksite mindfulness-related multi-component health promotion intervention on work engagement and mental health: Results of a randomized controlled trial

Objectives The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a worksite mindfulness-related multi-component health promotion intervention on work engagement, mental health, need for recovery and mindfulness. Methods In a randomized controlled trial design, 257 workers of two research institutes participated. The intervention group (n = 129) received a targeted mindfulness-related training, followed by e-coaching. The total duration of the intervention was 6 months. Data on work engagement, mental health, need for recovery and mindfulness were collected using questionnaires at baseline and after 6 and 12 months follow-up. Effects were analyzed using linear mixed effect models. Results There were no significant differences in work engagement, mental health, need for recovery and mindfulness between the intervention and control group after either 6- or 12-months follow-up. Additional analyses in mindfulness-related training compliance subgroups (high and low compliance versus the control group as a reference) and subgroups based on baseline work engagement scores showed no significant differences either. Conclusions This study did not show an effect of this worksite mindfulness-related multi-component health promotion intervention on work engagement, mental health, need for recovery and mindfulness after 6 and 12 months. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register NTR2199

Process Evaluation of a Workplace Health Promotion Intervention Aimed at Improving Work Engagement and Energy Balance

Objective: To evaluate the process of the implementation of an intervention aimed at improving work engagement and energy balance, and to explore associations between process measures and compliance. Methods: Process measures were assessed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: The mindfulness training was attended at least once by 81.3% of subjects, and 54.5% were highly compliant. With regard to e-coaching and homework exercises, 6.3% and 8.0%, respectively, were highly compliant. The training was appreciated with a 7.5 score and e-coaching with a 6.8 score. Appreciation of training and e-coaching, satisfaction with trainer and coach, and practical facilitation were significantly associated with compliance. Conclusion: The intervention was implemented well on the level of the mindfulness training, but poorly on the level of e-coaching and homework time investment. To increase compliance, attention should be paid to satisfaction and trainer-participant relationship.

Effectiveness of a combined social and physical environmental intervention on presenteeism, absenteeism, work performance, and work engagement in office employees.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a combined social and physical environmental intervention as well as the effectiveness of both separate interventions. Methods: In a 2 × 2 factorial design, 412 office employees were allocated to the combined social and physical environmental intervention, to the social environmental intervention only, to the physical environmental intervention only, or were part of the control group. Data on presenteeism, absenteeism, work performance, and work engagement were obtained with questionnaires at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Multilevel analyses were performed. Results: The combined intervention showed a decrease in contextual performance and dedication. The social environmental intervention showed an improvement in task performance. The physical environmental intervention revealed an improvement in absorption. Conclusion: Although the study showed some promising results, it is not recommended to implement the current interventions.

Process evaluation of a worksite social and physical environmental intervention

Objective: To evaluate the process of implementation of a social and physical environmental intervention and to explore differences regarding this process between both interventions. Methods: Context, recruitment, dose delivered, fidelity, reach, dose received, satisfaction, and implementation barriers were investigated. Results: Reach for the social and physical environmental interventions ranged from 45% to 76%. Mean satisfaction for the social environmental intervention was 6.0 and for the physical environmental intervention was 7.0. Generally, the results were higher for team leaders than for employees. Furthermore, the implementation of the physical intervention was better at the departments that additionally received the social intervention. Conclusion: Both interventions were better implemented on the level of the team leader than that of the employees. Furthermore, the combined interventions received higher evaluation scores. To increase satisfaction and participation, attention should be paid to both employees and team leaders during implementation.

Process variables in organizational stress management intervention evaluation research: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES This systematic review aimed to explore which process variables are used in stress management intervention (SMI) evaluation research. METHODS A systematic review was conducted using seven electronic databases. Studies were included if they reported on an SMI aimed at primary or secondary stress prevention, were directed at paid employees, and reported process data. Two independent researchers checked all records and selected the articles for inclusion. Nielsen and Randalls model for process evaluation was used to cluster the process variables. The three main clusters were context, intervention, and mental models. RESULTS In the 44 articles included, 47 process variables were found, clustered into three main categories: context (two variables), intervention (31 variables), and mental models (14 variables). Half of the articles contained no reference to process evaluation literature. The collection of process evaluation data mostly took place after the intervention and at the level of the employee. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that there is great heterogeneity in methods and process variables used in process evaluations of SMI. This, together with the lack of use of a standardized framework for evaluation, hinders the advancement of process evaluation theory development.

Physical activity and relaxation during and after work are independently associated with the need for recovery

BACKGROUND Research is needed to better understand the associations between during-work and after-work-hours physical activity and relaxation and need for recovery (NFR), so a study of these variables in office workers at a financial service provider was undertaken. METHODS Self-reported baseline data of 412 employees (mean age = 41.3 y; 39.6% women) were used. Linear regression analyses were performed to test associations of physical activity, relaxation, detachment, and breaks at work with NFR. RESULTS A lower NFR was significantly positively associated with standing, stair climbing, active lunch break, relaxation at work, detachment at work, physical detachment at work, relaxation at home, and detachment at home. In the multiple model, a lower NFR was independently positively associated with frequency of stair climbing, minutes spent in leisure activities, detachment at work, physical detachment at work, and relaxation and detachment at home (P < .05). Significant effect modification indicated that the positive association between relaxation at home and NFR was stronger with high job demands. CONCLUSION Although prospective evidence is necessary to confirm the causal relationships, our findings suggest that engaging in stair climbing, leisure activities, (physical) detachment at work, relaxation and detachment after work is associated with a lower NFR. For future work site health promotion initiatives, interventions might be targeted at improving physical activity and relaxation.

Sickness absence and flight type exposure in flight crew members

BACKGROUND Shift work research has shown that the relationship between exposure to irregular working times and sickness absence may differ between working populations. Not much is known about the prevalence of sickness absence in flight crews or about the relationship between exposure to different flight schedules and sickness absence in this population. AIMS To examine the association between cumulative exposure to different flight types and sickness absence in flight crew members. METHODS The study population consisted of flight crew members from a 5 year historic cohort. Flight schedule and sickness absence data were obtained from company records. The association between the cumulative exposure to different flight types and sickness absence episodes of >7 days was determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Adjusted models were obtained by adding potential confounders. Previous sickness absence was added to compose the fully adjusted models. RESULTS The records of 8228 employees were analysed. The fully adjusted univariate analyses showed that the numbers of medium-haul flights and flights with time zone crossings were associated with an increase in the odds for sickness absence. The fully adjusted multivariate analyses showed no significant associations between flight types and sickness absence. CONCLUSIONS Cumulative exposure to flight types was not independently associated with sickness absence in flight crew members when previous sickness absence was taken into account. Because sickness absence in the past can predict future absence, preventive strategies targeted at flight crew members with a history of high sickness absence may be effective.

Werken hangt samen met de kwaliteit van leven bij mensen met multiple sclerose

SamenvattingOnderwerp: De betekenis van werken voor de kwaliteit van leven bij MS-patiënten.Doel van het onderzoek: Het verkrijgen van inzicht in de samenhang tussen kwaliteit van leven en werken bij MS-patiënten. Centraal staat de vraag of de werkstatus samenhangt met diverse deelaspecten van kwaliteit van leven.Soort onderzoek: Cross-sectionele vragenlijststudie onder 289 MS-patiënten geworven via een MS-polikliniek. Kwaliteit van leven is gemeten met de RAND-36.Resultaten: De respons op de vragenlijst was 54%. De werkstatus hangt significant samen met beter fysiek en sociaal functioneren, een betere mentale gezondheid, beter rolfunctioneren emotioneel en fysiek, meer vitaliteit, en minder pijn. Deze relaties bleven bestaan na correctie voor algemeen ervaren gezondheid. De begeleiding door de bedrijfsarts werd in het algemeen weinig positief gewaardeerd.Conclusie en beschouwingen: Uit de resultaten van deze studie kan worden geconcludeerd dat werk bij MS-patiënten samenhangt met een betere kwaliteit van leven, ook na correctie voor gezondheidsverschillen.

Passief roken op de werkplek draagt bij aan longklachten

Samenvatting‘Vermindering van onvrijwillige blootstelling aan tabaksrook, vooral in de werkomgeving, draagt zeer waarschijnlijk bij aan een verbetering van de respiratoire gezondheid,’ zo luidt de conclusie van een recent gepubliceerde mammoetstudie. 1 Op grond van de gepresenteerde onderzoeksbevindingen is er alle reden om meer aandacht te besteden aan hinder door passief roken. De arbodiensten zullen hier meer werk van moeten maken.

Economic Evaluation of a Multifaceted Implementation Strategy for the Prevention of Hand Eczema Among Healthcare Workers in Comparison with a Control Group: The Hands4U Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a multifaceted implementation strategy for the prevention of hand eczema in comparison with a control group among healthcare workers. A total of 48 departments (n=1,649) were randomly allocated to the implementation strategy or the control group. Data on hand eczema and costs were collected at baseline and every 3 months. Cost-effectiveness analyses were performed using linear multilevel analyses. The probability of the implementation strategy being cost-effective gradually increased with an increasing willingness-to-pay, to 0.84 at a ceiling ratio of €590,000 per person with hand eczema prevented (societal perspective). The implementation strategy appeared to be not cost-effective in comparison with the control group (societal perspective), nor was it cost-beneficial to the employer. However, this study had some methodological problems which should be taken into account when interpreting the results.