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Human Resources for Health
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Open Access 01-12-2023 | Research

Use it or lose it? Identifying reasons for the low use of psychosocial support by hospital staff

Authors: Frank van de Baan, Lieze Poesen, Daan Westra, Bram Fleuren, Dirk Ruwaard, Fred Zijlstra, Rachel Gifford

Published in: Human Resources for Health | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

Psychosocial support programs are a way for hospitals to support the mental health of their staff. However, while support is needed, utilization of support by hospital staff remains low. This study aims to identify reasons for non-use and elements that are important to consider when offering psychosocial support.

Methods

This mixed-method, multiple case study used survey data and in-depth interviews to assess the extent of psychosocial support use, reasons for non-use and perceived important elements regarding the offering of psychosocial support among Dutch hospital staff. The study focused on a time of especially high need, namely the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used to assess frequency of use among 1514 staff. The constant comparative method was used to analyze answers provided to two open-ended survey questions (n = 274 respondents) and in-depth interviews (n = 37 interviewees).

Results

The use of psychosocial support decreased from 8.4% in December 2020 to 3.6% by September 2021. We identified four main reasons for non-use of support: deeming support unnecessary, deeming support unsuitable, being unaware of the availability, or feeling undeserving of support. Furthermore, we uncovered four important elements: offer support structurally after the crisis, adjust support to diverse needs, ensure accessibility and awareness, and an active role for supervisors.

Conclusions

Our results show that the low use of psychosocial support by hospital staff is shaped by individual, organizational, and support-specific factors. These factors can be targeted to increase use of psychosocial support, whereby it is important to also focus on the wider hospital workforce in addition to frontline staff.
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Metadata
Title
Use it or lose it? Identifying reasons for the low use of psychosocial support by hospital staff
Authors
Frank van de Baan
Lieze Poesen
Daan Westra
Bram Fleuren
Dirk Ruwaard
Fred Zijlstra
Rachel Gifford
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Human Resources for Health / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1478-4491
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-023-00830-8

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