Effectiveness of Workplace Interventions to Improve Health and Well-Being of Health and Social Service Workers: A Narrative Review of Randomised Controlled Trials

Abstract

Health and social service workers face high levels of workload and job stressors, which can affect their health and well-being. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of workplace interventions that aim to improve their mental and physical health outcomes. This review summarizes the findings of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the impact of different types of workplace interventions on various health indicators among health and social service workers. The review searched the PubMed database from its inception to December 2022 and included RCTs that reported on the effectiveness of organizational-level interventions and qualitative studies that explored barriers and facilitators to participation in such interventions. A total of 108 RCTs were included in the review, covering job burnout (N = 56 RCTs), happiness or job satisfaction (N = 35), sickness absence (N = 18), psychosocial work stressors (N = 14), well-being (N = 13), work ability (N = 12), job performance or work engagement (N = 12), perceived general health (N = 9), and occupational injuries (N = 3). The review found that several workplace interventions were effective in improving work ability, well-being, perceived general health, work performance, and job satisfaction and in reducing psychosocial stressors, burnout, and sickness absence among healthcare workers. However, the effects were generally modest and short-lived. Some of the common barriers to participation in workplace interventions among healthcare workers were inadequate staff, high workload, time pressures, work constraints, lack of manager support, scheduling health programs outside work hours, and lack of motivation. This review suggests that workplace interventions have small short-term positive effects on health and well-being of healthcare workers. Workplace interventions should be implemented as routine programs with free work hours to encourage participation or integrate intervention activities into daily work routines.

Prevenção de adoecimento e promoção da saúde mental em profissionais de enfermagem: revisão integrativa

“…Ainda que a literatura existente estabeleça a eficácia de várias estratégias de promoção do adoecimento e de prevenção da saúde mental (SINGH; KUMAR; GUPTA, 2022), foi difícil encontrar artigos relacionados a intervenções de prevenção do adoecimento e da promoção da saúde mental de profissionais de enfermagem, por ser um tema negligenciado LAITINEN, 2023). As intervenções no local de trabalho devem ser implementadas como programas de rotina com horas de trabalho gratuitas, incentivar a participação ou integrar atividades de intervenção nas rotinas diárias de trabalho (SHIRI; NIKUNLAAKSO;LAITINEN, 2023).…”

“…A literatura destaca que algumas das barreiras comuns à participação em intervenções no local de trabalho entre profissionais de saúde envolvem tanto falta de pessoal adequado para propor as intervenções, bem como alta carga de trabalho, pressões de tempo, restrições de trabalho, falta de apoio do gestor, agendamento de programas de saúde fora do horário de trabalho e falta de motivação. Esta revisão sugere que as intervenções no local de trabalho têm pequenos efeitos positivos a curto prazo na saúde e no bem-estar dos cuidados de saúde trabalhadores (SHIRI; NIKUNLAAKSO;LAITINEN, 2023).…”

Associations between COVID-19 Pandemic-Related Overtime, Perceived Chronic Stress and Burnout Symptoms in German General Practitioners and Practice Personnel—A Prospective Study

“…A systematic review with 39 studies by Montano et al investigated interventions aimed at improving organizational workplace conditions and showed that comprehensive interventions including multiple aspects like organizational and worktimerelated factors at the same time showed the highest success rates [40]. A recent narrative review with 108 randomized controlled intervention trials included 56 RCTs covering burnout and 14 RCTs covering psychosocial work stressors in healthcare workers concluded that there are frequent barriers to participate in workplace interventions (e.g., time pressure, no support by employers) and that most interventions only provided short-term benefits on mental health of healthcare workers [41].…”

Importance of the elements involved in occupational health and safety programs

“…Cuantitativo El programa de intervención Prevail, mejora en la intervención grupal y reduce los niveles de estigma social y ausencia por enfermedad. Saju et al (31) (2019)…”

“…2024; 4:718 6 fomentar lo positivo y controlar la enfermedad, pueden observarse excelentes evidencias respecto a la salud mental del trabajador. (31) Tabla 3. Programa Prevail Estigma hacia los demás Suposiciones erróneas acerca de enfermedades mentales de otras personas.…”