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Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 5/2024

Open Access 02-05-2024 | Burnout Syndrome | Review

The effects of different types of organisational workplace mental health interventions on mental health and wellbeing in healthcare workers: a systematic review

Authors: Birgit Aust, Caleb Leduc, Johanna Cresswell-Smith, Clíodhna O’Brien, Reiner Rugulies, Mallorie Leduc, Doireann Ni Dhalaigh, Arilda Dushaj, Naim Fanaj, Daniel Guinart, Margaret Maxwell, Hanna Reich, Victoria Ross, Anvar Sadath, Katharina Schnitzspahn, Mónika Ditta Tóth, Chantal van Audenhove, Jaap van Weeghel, Kristian Wahlbeck, Ella Arensman, Birgit A. Greiner, MENTUPP consortium members

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 5/2024

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Abstract

Objective

To determine if and which types of organisational interventions conducted in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in healthcare are effective on mental health and wellbeing.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched six scientific databases, assessed the methodological quality of eligible studies using QATQS and grouped them into six organisational intervention types for narrative synthesis. Only controlled studies with at least one follow-up were eligible.

Results

We identified 22 studies (23 articles) mainly conducted in hospitals with 16 studies rated of strong or moderate methodological quality. More than two thirds (68%) of the studies reported improvements in at least one primary outcome (mental wellbeing, burnout, stress, symptoms of depression or anxiety), most consistently in burnout with eleven out of thirteen studies. We found a strong level of evidence for the intervention type “Job and task modifications” and a moderate level of evidence for the types “Flexible work and scheduling” and “Changes in the physical work environment”. For all other types, the level of evidence was insufficient. We found no studies conducted with an independent SME, however five studies with SMEs attached to a larger organisational structure. The effectiveness of workplace mental health interventions in these SMEs was mixed.

Conclusion

Organisational interventions in healthcare workers can be effective in improving mental health, especially in reducing burnout. Intervention types where the change in the work environment constitutes the intervention had the highest level of evidence. More research is needed for SMEs and for healthcare workers other than hospital-based physicians and nurses.
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Metadata
Title
The effects of different types of organisational workplace mental health interventions on mental health and wellbeing in healthcare workers: a systematic review
Authors
Birgit Aust
Caleb Leduc
Johanna Cresswell-Smith
Clíodhna O’Brien
Reiner Rugulies
Mallorie Leduc
Doireann Ni Dhalaigh
Arilda Dushaj
Naim Fanaj
Daniel Guinart
Margaret Maxwell
Hanna Reich
Victoria Ross
Anvar Sadath
Katharina Schnitzspahn
Mónika Ditta Tóth
Chantal van Audenhove
Jaap van Weeghel
Kristian Wahlbeck
Ella Arensman
Birgit A. Greiner
MENTUPP consortium members
Publication date
02-05-2024
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 5/2024
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-024-02065-z

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