Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study
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In: BMC Public Health, Vol. 24, No. 1, 1618, 12.2024.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study
AU - Engels, Miriam
AU - Scheepers, Louisa
AU - Engels, Judith
AU - Boß, Leif
AU - Kuhlmann, Rebekka
AU - Kuske, Johanna
AU - Lesener, Lutz
AU - Pavlista, Valeria
AU - Schmidt-Stiedenroth, Kira
AU - Diebig, Mathias
AU - Ruhle, Sascha A.
AU - Zapkau, Florian B.
AU - Angerer, Peter
AU - Hoewner, Jörg
AU - Lehr, Dirk
AU - Schwens, Christian
AU - Süß, Stefan
AU - Wulf, Ines C.
AU - Dragano, Nico
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/6/17
Y1 - 2024/6/17
N2 - Background: Structural and behavioral interventions to manage work-related stress are effective in employees. Nonetheless, they have been implemented insufficiently, particularly in micro- and small-sized enterprises (MSE). Main barriers include a lack of knowledge and limited resources, which could potentially be overcome with simplified web-based alternatives for occupational stress prevention. However, there is a lack of implementation research about web-based prevention in realistic settings of MSE. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the implementation process and success of an integrated web-based platform for occupational stress prevention (“System P”) and to identify potential barriers for its uptake and use in MSE in Germany. Methods: This study with a mixed-methods approach investigates eight process-related outcomes in a quantitative part I (adoption, reach, penetration, fidelity/dose, costs, acceptability) and a qualitative part II (acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility). Part I has a pre-post design with two measurements (6 months apart) with 98 individual participants and part II consists of 12 semi-structured interviews with managers and intercorporate stakeholders. Results: Part I revealed shortcomings in the implementation process. Adoption/Reach: Despite extensive marketing efforts, less than 1% of the contacted MSE responded to the offer of System P. A total of 40 MSE registered, 24 of which, characterized by good psychosocial safety climate, adopted System P. Penetration: Within these 24 MSE, 15% of the employees used the system. Fidelity/Dose: 11 MSE started a psychosocial risk-assessment (PRA), and no MSE finished it. The stress-management training (SMT) was started by 25 users and completed by 8. Costs: The use of System P was free of charge, but the time required to engage with was an indirect cost. Part II added insights on the perception of the web-based intervention: Acceptance of System P by users and stakeholders was good and it was assessed as appropriate for MSE. Results for feasibility were mixed. Conclusions: Although System P was generally perceived as useful and appropriate, only a small number of contacted MSE implemented it as intended. Prior experience and sensitivity for occupational (stress) prevention were mentioned as key facilitators, while (perceived) indirect costs were a key barrier. Enabling MSE to independently manage stress prevention online did not result in successful implementation. Increasing external support could be a solution. ⁺ 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.
AB - Background: Structural and behavioral interventions to manage work-related stress are effective in employees. Nonetheless, they have been implemented insufficiently, particularly in micro- and small-sized enterprises (MSE). Main barriers include a lack of knowledge and limited resources, which could potentially be overcome with simplified web-based alternatives for occupational stress prevention. However, there is a lack of implementation research about web-based prevention in realistic settings of MSE. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the implementation process and success of an integrated web-based platform for occupational stress prevention (“System P”) and to identify potential barriers for its uptake and use in MSE in Germany. Methods: This study with a mixed-methods approach investigates eight process-related outcomes in a quantitative part I (adoption, reach, penetration, fidelity/dose, costs, acceptability) and a qualitative part II (acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility). Part I has a pre-post design with two measurements (6 months apart) with 98 individual participants and part II consists of 12 semi-structured interviews with managers and intercorporate stakeholders. Results: Part I revealed shortcomings in the implementation process. Adoption/Reach: Despite extensive marketing efforts, less than 1% of the contacted MSE responded to the offer of System P. A total of 40 MSE registered, 24 of which, characterized by good psychosocial safety climate, adopted System P. Penetration: Within these 24 MSE, 15% of the employees used the system. Fidelity/Dose: 11 MSE started a psychosocial risk-assessment (PRA), and no MSE finished it. The stress-management training (SMT) was started by 25 users and completed by 8. Costs: The use of System P was free of charge, but the time required to engage with was an indirect cost. Part II added insights on the perception of the web-based intervention: Acceptance of System P by users and stakeholders was good and it was assessed as appropriate for MSE. Results for feasibility were mixed. Conclusions: Although System P was generally perceived as useful and appropriate, only a small number of contacted MSE implemented it as intended. Prior experience and sensitivity for occupational (stress) prevention were mentioned as key facilitators, while (perceived) indirect costs were a key barrier. Enabling MSE to independently manage stress prevention online did not result in successful implementation. Increasing external support could be a solution. ⁺ 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.
KW - Micro- and small-sized enterprises
KW - Occupational health
KW - Psychosocial risk assessment, stress management
KW - Web-based intervention
KW - Psychology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85196104315&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/c0502705-6e86-354f-98cb-55f1a6b2c694/
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-024-19102-8
DO - 10.1186/s12889-024-19102-8
M3 - Journal articles
C2 - 38886711
AN - SCOPUS:85196104315
VL - 24
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
SN - 1471-2458
IS - 1
M1 - 1618
ER -