3 results
Empower: Design of a digital intervention for workplace stress and mental health. A European study
- C. M. Van Der Feltz-Cornelis, J. Shepherd, B. Olaya, C. Vanroelen, J. Gevaert, O. Borrega Cepa, R. M. Bernard, D. Merecz-Kot, M. Sinokki, L. Hakkaart-van Roijen, J. M. Haro, C. EMPOWER
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S160-S161
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Introduction
Work stress, anxiety and depression have an enormous impact on the well-being of employees, their employers, and society. Due to the loss of productivity, common mental disorders have a substantial economic impact. Major depression alone has been attributed to 50% of long-term absences from work, and depressive symptoms are related to lowered productivity while at work. Anxiety also contributes to loss of productivity and sickness absence. Treatment of common mental disorders in a work setting may improve symptoms, however, that does not automatically lead to improved work productivity. Addressing mental well-being at the workplace might improve work functioning, and digital interventions have been introduced with that objective. However, their evaluation in research has been limited.
The European Intervention to Promote Wellbeing and Health in the Workplace (EMPOWER) digital intervention is designed to provide and evaluate an integrative user programme that meets the needs of employees and employers in addressing work stress.
This work was supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme Health (grant number APP1195937, 848180). The EMPOWER project started 1.1.2020 and is currently ongoing.
ObjectivesWe aim to
1) describe the design and development of the digital intervention.
2) culturally validate the intervention in three countries
3) test the prototype and beta version for its usability in the RCT to evaluate its effect in four countries that is currently ongoing.
MethodsA user-centred design process was followed from January 2020 until November 2021 to create a beta version for usability testing. A tailored algorithm was developed to provide support at the individual employee level and the company level. Each element of the digital intervention was translated and culturally validated in four languages in Spain, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Finland. Usability testing was conducted in each country (n=31) to explore validity, usability, and user experience.
ResultsThe digital intervention consists of a website and a mobile application (app). The website has a public section and an employer portal that provides recommendations to reduce psychosocial risks in their company based upon clustered input from employees. The app provides algorithm-based personalised content after assessing a user’s physical and psychological symptoms, work functioning, and psychosocial risk factors for work stress. The usability testing improved the flow through the app and high ease of use and completion of tasks by participants.
ConclusionsThe EMPOWER digital intervention is a tailored multimodal intervention addressing wellbeing, work stress, mental and physical health problems, and work productivity. Usability testing provided validation of the app as version to be evaluated in the EMPOWER RCT.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Effectiveness of tailored digital health interventions for mental health at the workplace: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials
- C. M. van der Feltz-Cornelis, T. M. Byrne, J. Shepherd, D. Merecz-Kot, M. Sinokki, P. Naumanen, L. Hakkaart-van Roijen, C. Empower
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S854-S855
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Introduction
Mental health problems in the workplace are common and have a considerable impact on employee wellbeing and productivity. Mental ill-health costs employers between £33 billion and £42 billion a year. According to a 2020 HSE report, roughly 2,440 per 100,000 workers in the UK were affected by work-related stress, depression, or anxiety, resulting in an estimated 17.9 million working days lost.
This study is part of the EMPOWER study. The European Intervention to Promote Wellbeing and Health in the Workplace (EMPOWER) consortium’s aim is to create an individualised digital tool that promotes employee wellbeing, mental health, and work productivity. It has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/home) and innovation program under grant agreement No 848180.
ObjectivesWe performed a systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of tailored digital health interventions provided in the workplace aiming to improve mental health, presenteeism and absenteeism of employees.
MethodsWe searched several databases for RCTs published from 2000 onwards. Data were extracted into a standardised data extraction form. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Due to the heterogeneity of outcome measures, narrative synthesis was used to summarise the findings.
ResultsSeven RCTs (eight publications) were included that evaluated tailored digital interventions versus waiting list control or usual care to improve physical and mental health outcomes and work productivity.
The results are promising to the advantage of tailored digital interventions regarding presenteeism, sleep, stress levels, and physical symptoms related to somatisation.
There is less evidence for addressing depression, anxiety, and absenteeism in the general working population, but they significantly reduced depression and anxiety in employees with higher levels of psychological distress.
ConclusionsTailored digital interventions seem more effective in employees with higher levels of distress, presenteeism or absenteeism than in the general working population. However, so far, there are not many studies in this domain. Given the promising results, tailoring of digital interventions based upon employee input should be a focus in future research.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Digital universal parent training program to promote positive parenting skills – A randomized waiting-list study
- K. Mishina, M. Kinnunen, A. Heikkinen, S. Saarinen, S. Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki, A. Sinokki, T. Imberg, A. Sourander
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 65 / Issue S1 / June 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 September 2022, p. S572
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Introduction
Parent training programs have high potential to promote positive parent-child relationships as well as reach and engage parents to participate. Digitally delivered programs may overcome the barriers associated with face-to-face interventions, such as stigma, logistic challenges and limited resources.
ObjectivesTo assess the effectiveness and feasibility of digital universal parent training program for families with 3 years-old children, focusing on parenting skills and child´s behavior.
MethodsA non-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two groups: (I) the intervention group, in which participants receive the parent training and (II) the waiting list group, in which participants are placed on a waiting list to receive the parent training intervention after the first follow-up measurement have been completed. Participants must meet the following inclusion criteria: a) guardians having a child age 3 years, b) participating to annual health checkup in child health clinic, c) at least one of the guardian is able to understand the languages that intervention is provided.
ResultsPilot study with feasibility assessment finished at early 2021. Recruitment of the wider RCT study is currently ongoing. The results from the pilot study and more detailed description about the intervention will be presented.
ConclusionsThis study with good national geographical coverage is a unique possibility to evaluate universal parenting program on promoting parenting behaviors associated with the promotion of optimal child emotional development. This study also provides population level information about parenting skills and child´s behavior.
DisclosureNo significant relationships.