Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Standard

Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study. / Engels, Miriam; Scheepers, Louisa; Engels, Judith et al.
In: BMC Public Health, Vol. 24, No. 1, 1618, 12.2024.

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Harvard

Engels, M, Scheepers, L, Engels, J, Boß, L, Kuhlmann, R, Kuske, J, Lesener, L, Pavlista, V, Schmidt-Stiedenroth, K, Diebig, M, Ruhle, SA, Zapkau, FB, Angerer, P, Hoewner, J, Lehr, D, Schwens, C, Süß, S, Wulf, IC & Dragano, N 2024, 'Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study', BMC Public Health, vol. 24, no. 1, 1618. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19102-8

APA

Engels, M., Scheepers, L., Engels, J., Boß, L., Kuhlmann, R., Kuske, J., Lesener, L., Pavlista, V., Schmidt-Stiedenroth, K., Diebig, M., Ruhle, S. A., Zapkau, F. B., Angerer, P., Hoewner, J., Lehr, D., Schwens, C., Süß, S., Wulf, I. C., & Dragano, N. (2024). Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study. BMC Public Health, 24(1), Article 1618. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19102-8

Vancouver

Engels M, Scheepers L, Engels J, Boß L, Kuhlmann R, Kuske J et al. Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study. BMC Public Health. 2024 Dec;24(1):1618. Epub 2024 Jun 17. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19102-8

Bibtex

@article{a0cf031d3ca24577bfad4c380bbe5d5d,
title = "Web-based occupational stress prevention in German micro- and small-sized enterprises – process evaluation results of an implementation study",
abstract = "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 L{\"o}sungen f{\"u}r die Implementation von Ma{\ss}nahmen zur Stresspr{\"a}vention 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.",
keywords = "Micro- and small-sized enterprises, Occupational health, Psychosocial risk assessment, stress management, Web-based intervention, Psychology",
author = "Miriam Engels and Louisa Scheepers and Judith Engels and Leif Bo{\ss} and Rebekka Kuhlmann and Johanna Kuske and Lutz Lesener and Valeria Pavlista and Kira Schmidt-Stiedenroth and Mathias Diebig and Ruhle, {Sascha A.} and Zapkau, {Florian B.} and Peter Angerer and J{\"o}rg Hoewner and Dirk Lehr and Christian Schwens and Stefan S{\"u}{\ss} and Wulf, {Ines C.} and Nico Dragano",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",
year = "2024",
month = jun,
day = "17",
doi = "10.1186/s12889-024-19102-8",
language = "English",
volume = "24",
journal = "BMC Public Health",
issn = "1471-2458",
publisher = "BMC",
number = "1",

}

RIS

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 -