Participatory Assessment and Selection of Workforce Health Intervention Priorities for Correctional Supervisors

Abstract

Objective: A team of academics and unionized correctional supervisors collaborated to assess workforce health and determine intervention priorities using participatory methods and tools. Methods: Correctional supervisors took a web-based survey. Univariate and bivariate tests examined attitudes/ behaviors, exposures, and outcomes most strongly associated with health; risk based on rank within chain-of-command; and health behaviors amenable to change. We used a voting process tool to prioritize intervention topics. Results: Some health behaviors and outcomes were poor (89% overweight/ obese, 41% poor-quality sleep). We also found favorable health behaviors (annual check-ups) and psychosocial conditions (meaningful work). Some health risks (excessive overtime) were not amenable to change or resisted acknowledgment (poor mental health). The team voted to develop interventions on sleep, mental health, and obesity. Conclusions: Comprehensive health assessment informed the prioritization process, enabling the team to quickly reach consensus on intervention priorities.

Participatory design of a sleep intervention with correctional supervisors using a root causes approach

“…The shared overtime policy also had the potential obstacle of requiring union contract negotiations. The underlying contradiction of overtime work also came into play, as our previous research found that not all supervisors would support initiatives to limit overtime that reduced income, even if it meant better sleep health 29,30 . The DT decided to tackle sleep habits due to the fact that it was a more agreeable topic to approach.…”

“…As such, it was forwarded to union management to become a possible topic for future contract negotiation. Changes in work schedules also required considerable discussion within the union bargaining unit, because many supervisors value their overtime income and would resist any organizational changes that would reduce those opportunities 29,30 . The DT acknowledged that such an innovative intervention would require some education of the workforce on the consequences of long work hours for sleep and health, and needed more support from the ranks to move forward.…”

“…19 Moreover, the health and well-being of correctional employees has not received the same level of research and policy attention as other public safety workers, such as police officers and firefighters, despite having one of the poorest health profiles of any occupation. 30 The survey also showed that insufficient hours of sleep, poor quality sleep, and difficulty sleeping, were all correlated with worse overall health.…”

“…To fully understand the health, safety, and well‐being concerns of correctional supervisors, the Design Team (DT) began its work together by developing a workforce health needs assessment survey and administering it to supervisor union members within the DOC. Full details of the participatory survey design process, survey findings, and the selection of workforce health intervention priorities are provided in prior publications by Dugan and colleagues 29,30 …”

“…Mental health/stress was voted on as an equivalent priority, but due to a general reluctance among corrections workers to acknowledge and address their psychological challenges, sleep was considered a less personally invasive and more acceptable starting point. It was also an especially salient health topic given the number of supervisors affected, as the workforce health assessment survey showed that 57% of supervisors reported getting 6 or fewer hours of sleep per day, and 41% reported typically having poor‐quality sleep 30 . The survey also showed that insufficient hours of sleep, poor quality sleep, and difficulty sleeping, were all correlated with worse overall health.…”