Facilitating stress prevention in micro and small-sized enterprises: protocol for a mixed method study to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation process of targeted web-based interventions

Abstract

Background Workplace-related stress is a major risk factor for mental and physical health problems and related sickness absence and productivity loss. Despite evidence regarding the effectiveness of different workplace-based interventions, the implementation of stress prevention interventions is rare, especially in micro and small-sized enterprises (MSE) with fewer than 50 employees. The joint research project “PragmatiKK”+ aims to identify and address the specific barriers to the implementation of stress prevention interventions in MSE. This study protocol describes a mixed method study design to evaluate the effectiveness of adapted stress prevention interventions and the implementation process via an integrated web-based platform (“System P”) specifically targeted at MSE. Methods First, we develop a web-based intervention, which accounts for the specific working conditions in MSE and addresses stress prevention at a structural and behavioral level. Second, we use common methods of implementation research to perform an effect and process evaluation. We analyze the effectiveness of the web-based stress prevention interventions by comparing depressive symptoms at baseline and follow-up (after 6 months and 12 months). Indicators for a successful implementation process include acceptability, adoption, feasibility, reach, dose, and fidelity, which we will measure with quantitative web-based questionnaires and qualitative interviews. We will also analyze the accumulated usage data from the web-based platform. Discussion Collecting data on the implementation process and the effectiveness of a web-based intervention will help to identify and overcome common barriers to stress prevention in MSE. This can improve the mental health of employees in MSE, which constitute more than 90% of all enterprises in Germany. + Full Project Name: „PragmatiKK - Pragmatische Lösungen für die Implementation von Maßnahmen zur Stressprävention in Kleinst- und Kleinbetrieben “(= Pragmatic solutions for the implementation of stress prevention interventions in micro and small-sized enterprises). Trial registration German Register of Clinical Studies (DRKS): DRKS00026154, date of registration: 2021-09-16.

Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study

“…Moreover, this intervention has been proved to be cost-effective compared to waiting controls [ 41 ]. Before integration into System P, the training was adapted to the MSE setting by introducing employees and managers of MSE as examples in the exercises [ 43 ].…”

Gender differences at the workplace: Sickness absence and productivity loss at work and their association with health and work-related factors

“…Many intervention studies taking place in the work environment are addressing these factors, and their results are promising, although there are many different ways of studying changes in psychosocial work-related factors, and a lot of gaps in knowledge still exist [46][47][48][49]. In addition, workplace interventions to improve employees' health and reduce sickness absence should look at men and women separately, in order to realize and maximize their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.…”

“…Mnoge interventne studije koje se sprovode u radnom okruženju bave se ovim faktorima, i njihovi rezultati obećavaju, mada postoji mnogo različitih načina za proučavanje promena u psihosocijalnim faktorima povezanim sa poslom, a još uvek postoji i mnogo praznina u saznanjima iz ove oblasti [46][47][48][49]. Takođe, intervencije na radnom mestu koje su usmerene na unapređivanje zdravlja zaposlenih i smanjivanje odsustvovanja sa posla zbog bolovanja, trebalo bi da analiziraju žene i muškarce odvojeno, kako bi bile maksimalno delotvorne i isplative.…”

Implementation of an internet-based stress management program in micro- and small-sized enterprises: A study protocol for a pre-post feasibility study of the effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 2 trial

“…Acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility have been suggested as important implementation aspects of mental health interventions (21)(22)(23)(24). However, few studies have not been conducted yet examined the effectiveness and implementation outcomes of internet-based interventions for MSEs without some recent protocols (25,26). Therefore, methods to improve implementation outcomes (i.e., implementation strategy) should be developed and examined.…”