Kerstin Ulin

Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) and Psychosocial Factors at Work Among Healthcare Professionals

Aim: The study aims to examine the associations between leader–member exchange (LMX) and psychosocial factors at work. nMethods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was undertaken at four units in two not-for-profit hospitals in southwestern Sweden. The study sample included 240 employees. nResults: Significant correlations were found between LMX items and most of the psychosocial domains and dimensions. The strongest correlations were found between the LMX item affect and rewards/recognition, role clarity and predictability, and the LMX item loyalty and rewards/recognition. In sum, high-quality LMX was associated with good psychosocial work conditions experienced by the employees. nConclusions: The results support possible ways for managers and employees to strengthen their relationships and this may in turn lead to more sustainable systems in health care.

Ergonomisk Værdistrømsanalyse (ErgoVSM) - Værktøj og brugerguide

General information State: Published Organisations: Department of Management Engineering, Management Science, Implementation and Performance Management, Swerea AB, Nordic School of Public Health NHV, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Reykjavík University, University of Iceland Contributors: Jarebrant, C., Johansson Hanse, J., Harlin, U., Ulin, K., Winkel, J., Edwards, K., Birgisdóttir, B. D., Gunnarsdóttir, S. Publication date: 2016

Ergonomic Value Stream Mapping (ErgoVSM) : Tool and User Guide

ErgoVSM is an intervention process tool stimulating a dialogue for creating more sustainable value streams at hospital wards. It represents a complement to traditional Value Stream Mapping. Work en ...

May sustainability of patient flows at hospitals be increased by adding a work environment module to Value Stream Mapping (VSM)? - A NOVO Multicenter study in Denmark, Iceland and Sweden

Introduction: The impact of ergonomic interventions may be offset by other changes at the work place, primarily rationalizations. These have previously been shown to imply a dominant negative effect on health and risk factors, thus causing effect modification (Westgaard & Winkel 2011). The present paper aims to present assessment of potential effect modifiers in intervention studies at hospital wards in Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. nMaterial and methods: The effect modifiers were assessed by a newly developed method (the EMA method; Edwards & Winkel 2016). It is a type of group interview including 3-6 participants representing all occupational groups in the investigated organization. The group is asked to write down significant changes at the workplace during the investigated period. The method also includes a semi-qualitative assessment of the potential Work Environment (WE) impact of each modifier. It aims to capture both the individual and collective account of all significant events that may have caused a significant impact in relation to the specific aim of the investigated intervention. nThirteen hospital wards went through interventions based on either the lean tool VSM (Value Stream Mapping) (6 wards) or the ErgoVSM method (Jarebrant et al, 2010) where additional focus is on ergonomic issues (7 wards). nResults: In total 120 interventions were implemented. However, 322 significant modifiers were assessed to have occurred during the intervention period. Of these, 120 were assessed to imply impaired WE, 166 a positive impact, 33 no impact and 3 were not assessable. nThe number of significant modifier events varied between wards from 8-48, while the number of implemented interventions varied from 0-28. The semi-qualitative assessments suggested a major impact on WE due to modifiers. At seven wards the dominating impact of the modifiers was estimated to improve WE; at two wards the modifiers were estimated mainly to impair WE while four wards showed a mixture of modifiers, some estimated to improve and other to impair WE. nConclusion: Numerous effect modifiers occurred parallel to the investigated interventions. This jeopardizes any inference regarding impact of the investigated interventions on WE. The study thereby highlights the significance of considering effect modifiers in ergonomic intervention research.