Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Poor mental health is the dominant cause of sick leave in Sweden today and we have strong reasons to believe that certain work environment conditions is one contributing factor. We know which these conditions are, however, we don't know how to change them. This means that we lack knowledge on what methods are effective in improving organisational and social work conditions and stress in the workplace.
Interventions to address work-related stress are increasing but are mainly secondary or tertiary. Secondary interventions are directed at individuals at risk of developing stress responses. Tertiary interventions focus on treating existing diagnosed conditions. Primary interventions, on the other hand, are preventive and aim to deal with organisational factors as causal stress agents. The aim of the study is to evaluate an organisational primary intervention with the aim to improve organisational and social work conditions and reduce stress within the construction industry.
Who can participate?
Managers and employees within the two studied regions in the construction company.
What does the study involve?
The study involves one intervention and one matched control group. For the intervention group, the project contains three phases. In the first phase we conducted a needs assessment using a formative evaluation. Interviews were carried out and a survey in order to answer the questions: What works well and what needs to be improved regarding the organizational and social work environment?
In the second phase researchers and representatives from different levels and districts worked together to prioritize outcomes and define essential intervention elements. We also discussed and formulated suggestions for how the intervention could be implemented in a good way. In the third phase implementation and evaluation take place.
The control group participates through answering the baseline and follow-up survey.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits: Reduced stress and improved work conditions.
Risks: Lack of improvements may cause disappointment among participants which in turn may lead to a more negative perception of work.
Where is the study run from?
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2019 - June 2021
Who is funding the study?
AFA Insurance, Sweden
Who is the main contact?
Dr Gun Johansson
gun.johansson@ki.se
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Gun Johansson
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1877-8569
Contact details
Solnavägen 4
Stockholm
11365
Sweden
+46 (0)733 628362
gun.johansson@ki.se
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
Nil known
Study information
Scientific title
Evaluation of a primary organisational co-created intervention with the aim to improve organisational and social work conditions and decrease stress within the construction industry
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Given that the managers adhere to the intervention we expect to see a greater improvement in work conditions (role clarity, influence, work pace, quantitative job demands), team effectiveness and stress in the intervention group compared to the control group.
Ethics approval
Approved 21/05/2019, Swedish Ethical Review Authority (Etikprövningsmyndigheten, Box 2110,
750 02, Uppsala, Sweden; +46 10-475 08 00; registrator@etikprovning.se), ref: 2019-02662
Study design
This is a controlled trial with one intervention and one control group with a 12 month follow-up
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Prevention
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a participant information sheet.
Condition
Work related stress
Intervention
Current interventions as of 14/02/2020:
The core intervention components are:
1. Assessment for first line managers
Assessment = making structured and collective (involving blue-collar workers) planning for all elements of the production (planning for blue-collar workers)
2. Duties clarification for project managers
Duties clarification and staffing plan = making clear role descriptions for all members of the production teams (white-collar workers), visualizing the plan and revising it continuously throughout the project. The staffing plan is closely related to the duties clarification and should also be scrutinized and revised.
3. For the support function team ("operational support") the highest manager will give feedback on the results of the survey and together with the team conduct a tailored action plan. Hence, the intervention activities will not be assessment and duties clarification for this group.
The study involves one intervention and one matched control group. For the intervention group, the project contains three phases. In the first phase we conducted a needs assessment using a formative evaluation. Interviews were carried out and a survey in order to answer the questions: What works well and what needs to be improved regarding the organizational and social work environment?
In the second phase researchers and representatives from different levels and districts worked together to prioritize outcomes and define essential intervention elements. We also discussed and formulated suggestions for how the intervention could be implemented in a good way. In the third phase implementation and evaluation take place.
The control group participates through answering the baseline and follow-up survey.
Previous interventions:
The core intervention components are:
1. Assessment for first line managers
Assessment = making structured and collective (involving blue-collar workers) planning for all elements of the production (planning for blue-collar workers)
2. Duties clarification for project managers
Duties clarification and staffing plan = making clear role descriptions for all members of the production teams (white-collar workers), visualizing the plan and revising it continuously throughout the project. The staffing plan is closely related to the duties clarification and should also be scrutinized and revised.
3. For the two support function teams (employees not dedicated to a project) the highest manager will give feedback on the results of the survey and together with the team conduct a tailored action plan. Hence, the intervention activities will not be assessment and duties clarification.
The study involves one intervention and one matched control group. For the intervention group, the project contains three phases. In the first phase we conducted a needs assessment using a formative evaluation. Interviews were carried out and a survey in order to answer the questions: What works well and what needs to be improved regarding the organizational and social work environment?
In the second phase researchers and representatives from different levels and districts worked together to prioritize outcomes and define essential intervention elements. We also discussed and formulated suggestions for how the intervention could be implemented in a good way. In the third phase implementation and evaluation take place.
The control group participates through answering the baseline and follow-up survey.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Stress, measured with the COPSOQ III questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
Secondary outcome measures
Current secondary outcome measures as of 14/02/2020:
1. Quantitative demands, measured with the COPSOQ III questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
2. Role clarity, measured with the COPSOQ III questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
3. Psychosocial safety climate, measured with questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
4. Team effectiveness, measured with questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
5. Staffing, measured with questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
6. Planning, measured with questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
Previous secondary outcome measures:
1. Quantitative demands, measured with the COPSOQ III questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
2. Work pace, measured with the COPSOQ III questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
3. Role clarity, measured with the COPSOQ III questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
4. Influence, measured with the COPSOQ III questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
5. Psychosocial safety climate, questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
6. Team effectiveness, questionnaire at baseline and 12 months
Overall trial start date
01/01/2018
Overall trial end date
30/06/2021
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Working in the recruited organisation at the time of recruitment and the follow-up endpoint
2. Age 18-65
Participant type
Mixed
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
Intervention group = 366 Control group =472
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Regional manager
2. District managers
Recruitment start date
31/05/2019
Recruitment end date
30/06/2021
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Sweden
Trial participating centre
Institute of environmental medicine Karolinska Institutet
Gothenburg
41250
Sweden
Sponsor information
Organisation
Karolinska Institute
Sponsor details
Nobels väg 13
Solna
171 65
Sweden
+46 (0) 733 628362
gun.johansson@ki.se
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Industry
Funder name
AFA Försäkring
Alternative name(s)
AFA Insurance
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
For-profit companies (industry)
Location
Sweden
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Publication and dissemination plan
1.Scientific publications (protocol and papers)
2. Conference presentations
3. Dissemination within the construction company is ongoing and will develop further when we know more about the results.
IPD sharing statement:
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request
Intention to publish date
01/03/2020
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2020 protocol in https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32228509 (added 02/04/2020)