Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Study protocol

The Mental Vitality @ Work study: design of a randomized controlled trial on the effect of a workers' health surveillance mental module for nurses and allied health professionals

Authors: Fania R Gärtner, Sarah M Ketelaar, Odile Smeets, Linda Bolier, Eva Fischer, Frank JH van Dijk, Karen Nieuwenhuijsen, Judith K Sluiter

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2011

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Employees in health care service are at high risk for developing mental health complaints. The effects of mental health complaints on work can have serious consequences for the quality of care provided by these workers. To help health service workers remain healthy and productive, preventive actions are necessary. A Workers' Health Surveillance (WHS) mental module may be an effective strategy to monitor and promote good (mental) health and work performance. The objective of this paper is to describe the design of a three arm cluster randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of a WHS mental module for nurses and allied health professionals. Two strategies for this WHS mental module will be compared along with data from a control group. Additionally, the cost effectiveness of the approaches will be evaluated from a societal perspective.

Methods

The study is designed as a cluster randomized controlled trial consisting of three arms (two intervention groups, 1 control group) with randomization at ward level. The study population consists of 86 departments in one Dutch academic medical center with a total of 1731 nurses and allied health professionals. At baseline, after three months and after six months of follow-up, outcomes will be assessed by online questionnaires. In both intervention arms, participants will complete a screening to detect problems in mental health and work functioning and receive feedback on their screening results. In cases of impairments in mental health or work functioning in the first intervention arm, a consultation with an occupational physician will be offered. The second intervention arm offers a choice of self-help e-mental health interventions, which will be tailored based on each individual's mental health state and work functioning. The primary outcomes will be help-seeking behavior and work functioning. Secondary outcomes will be mental health and wellbeing. Furthermore, cost-effectiveness in both intervention arms will be assessed, and a process evaluation will be performed.

Discussion

When it is proven effective compared to a control group, a WHS mental module for nurses and allied health professionals could be implemented and used on a regular basis by occupational health services in hospitals to improve employees' mental health and work functioning.

Trial Registration

NTR2786
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Aronsson G, Gustafsson K, Dallner M: Sick but yet at work. An empirical study of sickness presenteeism. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2000, 54: 502-509. 10.1136/jech.54.7.502.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
2.
Hilton MF, Scuffham PA, Sheridan J, Cleary CM, Whiteford HA: Mental ill-health and the differential effect of employee type on absenteeism and presenteeism. J Occup Environ Med. 2008, 50: 1228-1243. 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31818c30a8.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Lerner D, Adler DA, Chang H, Berndt ER, Irish JT, Lapitsky L, Hood MY, Reed J, Rogers WH: The clinical and occupational correlates of work productivity loss among employed patients with depression. J Occup Environ Med. 2004, 46: S46-S55. 10.1097/01.jom.0000126684.82825.0a.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Lerner D, Henke RM: What does research tell us about depression, job performance, and work productivity?. J Occup Environ Med. 2008, 50: 401-410. 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31816bae50.CrossRefPubMed
5.
McKnight PE, Kashdan TB: The importance of functional impairment to mental health outcomes: a case for reassessing our goals in depression treatment research. Clin Psychol Rev. 2009, 29: 243-259. 10.1016/j.cpr.2009.01.005.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
6.
Wieclaw J, Agerbo E, Mortensen PB, Bonde JP: Risk of affective and stress related disorders among employees in human service professions. Occup Environ Med. 2006, 63: 314-319. 10.1136/oem.2004.019398.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
7.
Gershon RR, Stone PW, Zeltser M, Faucett J, MacDavitt K, Chou SS: Organizational climate and nurse health outcomes in the United States: a systematic review. Ind Health. 2007, 45: 622-636. 10.2486/indhealth.45.622.CrossRefPubMed
8.
Sundin L, Hochwalder J, Bildt C, Lisspers J: The relationship between different work-related sources of social support and burnout among registered and assistant nurses in Sweden: a questionnaire survey. Int J Nurs Stud. 2007, 44: 758-769. 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.01.004.CrossRefPubMed
9.
Gätner FR, Nieuwenhuijsen K, van Dijk FJ, Sluiter JK: The impact of common mental disorders on the work functioning of nurses and allied health professionals: A systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud. 2010
10.
Nieuwenhuijsen K, Verbeek JH, de Boer AG, Blonk RW, van Dijk FJ: Validation of performance indicators for rehabilitation of workers with mental health problems. Med Care. 2005, 43: 1034-1042. 10.1097/01.mlr.0000178210.65122.4b.CrossRefPubMed
11.
van der Klink JJ, Blonk RW, Schene AH, van Dijk FJ: Reducing long term sickness absence by an activating intervention in adjustment disorders: a cluster randomised controlled design. Occup Environ Med. 2003, 60: 429-437. 10.1136/oem.60.6.429.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
Coles ME, Coleman SL: Barriers to treatment seeking for anxiety disorders: initial data on the role of mental health literacy. Depress Anxiety. 2010, 27: 63-71. 10.1002/da.20620.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Dahlberg KM, Waern M, Runeson B: Mental health literacy and attitudes in a Swedish community sample - investigating the role of personal experience of mental health care. BMC Public Health. 2008, 8: 8-10.1186/1471-2458-8-8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
14.
International Labour Organization: Technical and ethical guidelines for workers' health surveillance. 1998, Geneva: ILO
15.
16.
Plat MJ, Frings-Dresen MH, Sluiter JK: A systematic review of job-specific workers' health surveillance activities for fire-fighting, ambulance, police and military personnel. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2011
17.
Winwood PC, Tuckey MR, Peters R, Dollard MF: Identification and measurement of work-related psychological injury: piloting the psychological injury risk indicator among frontline police. J Occup Environ Med. 2009, 51: 1057-1065. 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181b2f3d8.CrossRefPubMed
18.
Levin SM, Herbert R, Moline JM, Todd AC, Stevenson L, Landsbergis P, Jiang S, Skloot G: Physical health status of world trade center rescue, recovery workers, volunteers-New York City, July 2002-August. Morb Mortal Week Report. 2004, 53: 807-812.
19.
Wright KM, Huffman AH, Adler AB, Castro CA: Psychological screening program overview. Mil Med. 2002, 167: 853-861.PubMed
20.
NVAB: Leidraad Preventief Medisch Onderzoek [Guidance Workers' Health Surveillance]. 2005, Utrecht, the Netherlands: NVAB [Netherlands Society of Occupational Medicine]
21.
22.
Schulz KF, Altman DG, Moher D: CONSORT 2010 Statement: Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. J Clin Epidemiol. 2010, 63: 834-840. 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2010.02.005.CrossRefPubMed
23.
Hulshof CT, Frings-Dresen MH: International OH systems Part 2: occupational health deliveray in the Netherlands. Occupational Health at Work. 2010, 6: 19-23.
24.
van der Klink JJ: Richtlijn: Handelen van de bedrijfsarts bij werkenden met psychisch problemen. [Guideline: management of mental health problems of workers by occupational physicians] [Netherlands Society of Occupational Medicine]. 2007, Utrecht: NVAB
25.
Haverman M, Bohlmeijer E, Bolier L: Psyfit, een internet interventie ter bevordering van de mentale gezondheid [Psyfit, an online intervention to promote mental health]. 2010, Utrecht: Trimbos-instituut
26.
de Graaf LE, Gerhards SA, Arntz A, Riper H, Metsemakers JF, Evers SM, Severens JL, Widdershoven G, Huibers MJ: Clinical effectiveness of online computerised cognitive-behavioural therapy without support for depression in primary care: randomised trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2009, 195: 73-80. 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.054429.CrossRefPubMed
27.
de Graaf LE, Huibers MJ, Riper H, Gerhards SA, Arntz A: Use and acceptability of unsupported online computerized cognitive behavioral therapy for depression and associations with clinical outcome. J Affect Disord. 2009, 116: 227-231. 10.1016/j.jad.2008.12.009.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Spek V, Nyklicek I, Smits N, Cuijpers P, Riper H, Keyzer J, Pop V: Internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for subthreshold depression in people over 50 years old: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Psychol Med. 2007, 37: 1797-1806.PubMed
29.
Spek V, Cuijpers P, Nyklicek I, Riper H, Keyzer J, Pop V: Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for symptoms of depression and anxiety: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med. 2007, 37: 319-328. 10.1017/S0033291706008944.CrossRefPubMed
30.
Spek V, Cuijpers P, Nyklicek I, Smits N, Riper H, Keyzer J, Pop V: One-year follow-up results of a randomized controlled clinical trial on internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy for subthreshold depression in people over 50 years. Psychol Med. 2008, 38: 635-639.CrossRefPubMed
31.
Warmerdam L, van SA, Twisk J, Riper H, Cuijpers P: Internet-based treatment for adults with depressive symptoms: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2008, 10: e44-10.2196/jmir.1094.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
32.
Meulenbeek P, Willemse G, Smit F, van BA, Spinhoven P, Cuijpers P: Early intervention in panic: randomized controlled trial and cost-effectiveness analysis. Trials. 2008, 9: 67-10.1186/1745-6215-9-67.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
33.
Meulenbeek P, Willemse G, Smit F, Smits N, van BA, Spinhoven P, Cuijpers P: Effects and feasibility of a preventive intervention in sub-threshold and mild panic disorder: Results of a pilot study. BMC Res Notes. 2009, 2: 4-10.1186/1756-0500-2-4.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
34.
Meulenbeek P, Willemse G, Smit F, van BA, Spinhoven P, Cuijpers P: Early intervention in panic: pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2010, 196: 326-331. 10.1192/bjp.bp.109.072504.CrossRefPubMed
35.
Smit F, Willemse G, Meulenbeek P, Koopmanschap M, van BA, Spinhoven P, Cuipers P: Preventing panic disorder: cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a pragmatic randomised trial. Cost Eff Resour Alloc. 2009, 7: 8-10.1186/1478-7547-7-8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
36.
van Ballegooijen W, Riper H, van SA, Kramer J, Conijn B, Cuijpers P: The effects of an Internet based self-help course for reducing panic symptoms - Don't Panic Online: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2011, 12: 75-10.1186/1745-6215-12-75.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Kramer J, Riper H, Lemmers L, Conijn B, van SA, Smit F: Television-supported self-help for problem drinkers: a randomized pragmatic trial. Addict Behav. 2009, 34: 451-457. 10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.12.015.CrossRefPubMed
38.
Riper H, Kramer J, Smit F, Conijn B, Schippers G, Cuijpers P: Web-based self-help for problem drinkers: a pragmatic randomized trial. Addiction. 2008, 103: 218-227. 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02063.x.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Riper H, Smit F, van der Zanden R, Conijn B, Kramer J, Mutsaers K: E-mental health. High tech, high touch, high trust. 2007, Utrecht: Trimbos-instituut
40.
Mitchell J, Stanimirovic R, Klein B, Vella-Brodrick D: A randomised controlled trial of a self-guided internet intervention promoting well-being. Comput Hum Behav. 2009, 749-760.
41.
Seligman MEP, Steen TA, Park N, Peterson C: Positive Psychology Progress: Empirical Validation of Interventions. Am Psychol. 2005, 410-421.
42.
Terluin B: De Vierdimensionele Klachtenlijst (4DKL) in de huisartspraktijk [The Four Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ)]. De Psycholoog. 1998, 33: 18-24.
43.
Terluin B, van Marwijk HW, Ader HJ, de Vet HC, Penninx BW, Hermens ML, van Boeijen CA, van Balkom AJ, van der Klink JJ, Stalman WA: The Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ): a validation study of a multidimensional self-report questionnaire to assess distress, depression, anxiety and somatization. BMC Psychiatry. 2006, 6: 34-10.1186/1471-244X-6-34.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
44.
van Rhenen W, van Dijk FJ, Schaufeli WB, Blonk RW: Distress or no distress, that's the question: A cutoff point for distress in a working population. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2008, 3: 3-10.1186/1745-6673-3-3.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
45.
van Veldhoven M, Meijman TF: Het meten van een psychosociale arbeidsbelasting met een vragenlijst: de vragenlijst beleving en beoordeling van arbeid (VBBA) [The measurement of psychosocial job demands with a questionnaire: the questionnaire on the experience and evaluation of work (QEEW)]. 1994, Amsterdam: Dutch Institute for Working Conditions
46.
de Croon EM, Sluiter JK, Frings-Dresen MH: Psychometric properties of the Need for Recovery after work scale: test-retest reliability and sensitivity to detect change. Occup Environ Med. 2006, 63: 202-206. 10.1136/oem.2004.018275.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
47.
Sluiter JK, de Croon EM, Meijman TF, Frings-Dresen MH: Need for recovery from work related fatigue and its role in the development and prediction of subjective health complaints. Occup Environ Med. 2003, 60 (Suppl 1): i62-i70.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
48.
van Veldhoven MJ, Sluiter JK: Work-related recovery opportunities: testing scale properties and validity in relation to health. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2009, 82: 1065-1075. 10.1007/s00420-009-0411-z.CrossRefPubMed
49.
Broersen JPJ, Fortuin RJ, Dijkstra L, van Veldhoven M, Prins J: Monitor Arboconvenanten: kengetallen en grenswaarden. [Monitor occupational health and safety: key indicators and limits]. TBV. 2004, 12: 100-104.CrossRef
50.
Bush K, Kivlahan DR, McDonell MB, Fihn SD, Bradley KA: The AUDIT alcohol consumption questions (AUDIT-C): an effective brief screening test for problem drinking. Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement Project (ACQUIP). Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Arch Intern Med. 1998, 158: 1789-1795. 10.1001/archinte.158.16.1789.CrossRefPubMed
51.
Gual A, Segura L, Contel M, Heather N, Colom J: Audit-3 and audit-4: effectiveness of two short forms of the alcohol use disorders identification test. Alcohol Alcohol. 2002, 37: 591-596.CrossRefPubMed
52.
de Beurs E: Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI): Handleiding. 2006, Leiden: Pits Publishers
53.
de Beurs E, Zitman FG: De Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI): De betrouwbaarheid en validiteit van een handzaam alternatief voor de SCL-90. [The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI): The reliability and validity of a brief alternative of the SCL-90]. Maandblad GeestelijkeVolksgezondheid. 2006, 61: 120-141.
54.
Spitzer RL, Kroenke K, Williams JB: Validation and utility of a self-report version of PRIME-MD: the PHQ primary care study. Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Patient Health Questionnaire. JAMA. 1999, 282: 1737-1744. 10.1001/jama.282.18.1737.CrossRefPubMed
55.
Kroenke K, Spitzer RL, Williams JB: The PHQ-15: validity of a new measure for evaluating the severity of somatic symptoms. Psychosom Med. 2002, 64: 258-266.CrossRefPubMed
56.
Lowe B, Grafe K, Zipfel S, Spitzer RL, Herrmann-Lingen C, Witte S, Herzog W: Detecting panic disorder in medical and psychosomatic outpatients: comparative validation of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire, a screening question, and physicians' diagnosis. J Psychosom Res. 2003, 55: 515-519. 10.1016/S0022-3999(03)00072-2.CrossRefPubMed
57.
Brom D, Kleber RJ: De Schok Verwerkings Lijst [The Impact of Event Scale]. Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie. 2011, 40: 164-168.
58.
Horowitz M, Wilner N, Alvarez W: Impact of Event Scale: a measure of subjective stress. Psychosom Med. 1979, 41: 209-218.CrossRefPubMed
59.
van der Ploeg E, Mooren TT, Kleber RJ, van der Velden PG, Brom D: Construct validation of the Dutch version of the impact of event scale. Psychol Assess. 2004, 16: 16-26.CrossRefPubMed
60.
Chemtob CM, Tomas S, Law W, Cremniter D: Postdisaster psychosocial intervention: a field study of the impact of debriefing on psychological distress. Am J Psychiatry. 1997, 154: 415-417.CrossRefPubMed
61.
Hakkaart-van Roijen L, van Straten A, Donker M: Trimbos/iMTA questionnaire for costs associated with psychiatric illness (TIC-P). 2002, Rotterdam: iMTA
62.
Rickwood D, Deane FP, Wilson CJ, Ciarrochi J: Young people's help-seeking for mental health problems. AeJAMH (Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health). 2005
63.
Walters K, Buszewicz M, Weich S, King M: Help-seeking preferences for psychological distress in primary care: effect of current mental state. Br J Gen Pract. 2008, 58: 694-698. 10.3399/bjgp08X342174.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
64.
Wilson CJ, Deane FP, Ciarrochi J, Rickwood D: Measuring Help-Seeking Intentions: Properties of the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire. Canadian Journal of Counselling. 2005, 15-28.
65.
Koopmanschap MA: PRODISQ: a modular questionnaire on productivity and disease for economic evaluation studies. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2005, 5: 23-28. 10.1586/14737167.5.1.23.CrossRefPubMed
66.
Tuomi K, Ilmarinen J, Jahkola A, Katajarinne L, Tulkki A: Work Ability Index. 1998, Helsinki: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 2
67.
Keyes CL: The mental health continuum: from languishing to flourishing in life. J Health Soc Behav. 2002, 43: 207-222. 10.2307/3090197.CrossRefPubMed
68.
Lamers SMA, Westerhof GJ, Bohlmeijer ET, ten Klooster PM, Keyes CLM: Evaluating the psychometric properties of the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). J Clin Psychol. 2011, 67: 99-110. 10.1002/jclp.20741.CrossRefPubMed
69.
Westerhof GJ, Keyes CLM: Geestelijke gezondheid is meer dan de afwezigheid van ziekte [Mental health is more then the absence of disease]. Maandblad Geestelijke Gezondheid. 2008, 10: 808-820.
70.
Bech P, Olsen LR, Kjoller M, Rasmussen NK: Measuring well-being rather than the absence of distress symptoms: a comparison of the SF-36 Mental Health subscale and the WHO-Five Well-Being Scale. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2003, 12: 85-91. 10.1002/mpr.145.CrossRefPubMed
71.
Schaufeli WB, Bakker AB, Salanova M: The Measurement of Work Engagement With a Short Questionnaire: A Cross-National Study. Educ Psychol Meas. 2006, 701-716.
72.
Galdas PM, Cheater F, Marshall P: Men and health help-seeking behaviour: literature review. J Adv Nurs. 2005, 49: 616-623. 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03331.x.CrossRefPubMed
73.
Judd F, Komiti A, Jackson H: How does being female assist help-seeking for mental health problems?. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2008, 42: 24-29. 10.1080/00048670701732681.CrossRefPubMed
74.
Moller-Leimkuhler AM: Barriers to help-seeking by men: a review of sociocultural and clinical literature with particular reference to depression. J Affect Disord. 2002, 71: 1-9. 10.1016/S0165-0327(01)00379-2.CrossRefPubMed
75.
Gudmundsdottir G, Vilhjalmsson R: Group differences in outpatient help-seeking for psychological distress: results from a national prospective study of Icelanders. Scand J Public Health. 2010, 38: 160-167. 10.1177/1403494809357357.CrossRefPubMed
76.
Rudell K, Bhui K, Priebe S: Do 'alternative' help-seeking strategies affect primary care service use? A survey of help-seeking for mental distress. BMC Public Health. 2008, 8: 207-10.1186/1471-2458-8-207.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
77.
Schomerus G, Matschinger H, Angermeyer MC: The stigma of psychiatric treatment and help-seeking intentions for depression. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009, 259: 298-306. 10.1007/s00406-009-0870-y.CrossRefPubMed
78.
Isaksson Ro KE, Gude T, Tyssen R, Aasland OG: A self-referral preventive intervention for burnout among Norwegian nurses: one-year follow-up study. Patient Educ Couns. 2010, 78: 191-197. 10.1016/j.pec.2009.07.008.CrossRefPubMed
79.
Lipsey MW, Wilson DB: The efficacy of psychological, educational, and behavioral treatment. Confirmation from meta-analysis. Am Psychol. 1993, 48: 1181-1209.CrossRefPubMed
80.
Schellings R, Kessels AG, ter RG, Sturmans F, Widdershoven GA, Knottnerus JA: Indications and requirements for the use of prerandomization. J Clin Epidemiol. 2009, 62: 393-399. 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2008.07.010.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
The Mental Vitality @ Work study: design of a randomized controlled trial on the effect of a workers' health surveillance mental module for nurses and allied health professionals
Authors
Fania R Gärtner
Sarah M Ketelaar
Odile Smeets
Linda Bolier
Eva Fischer
Frank JH van Dijk
Karen Nieuwenhuijsen
Judith K Sluiter
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-290

Other articles of this Issue 1/2011

BMC Public Health 1/2011 Go to the issue

Research article

Prevalence and features of ICF-disability in Spain as captured by the 2008 National Disability Survey

Research article

Isolation of non-tuberculous mycobacteria from pastoral ecosystems of Uganda: Public Health significance

Research article

The development of socio-economic health differences in childhood: results of the Dutch longitudinal PIAMA birth cohort

Research article

Assessing Physical Activity and its Relationship to Cardiovascular Risk Factors: NHANES 2003-2006

Study protocol

Effectiveness of a structured motivational intervention including smoking cessation advice and spirometry information in the primary care setting: the ESPITAP study

Research article

The Correlates of Leisure Time Physical Activity among an Adults Population from Southern Taiwan