scholarly journals Resource-Based Internet Intervention (Med-Stress) to Improve Well-Being Among Medical Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/21445 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. e21445
Author(s):  
Ewelina Smoktunowicz ◽  
Magdalena Lesnierowska ◽  
Per Carlbring ◽  
Gerhard Andersson ◽  
Roman Cieslak
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Internet Intervention ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Active Comparator ◽  
Cultivation Process

Background Medical professionals are exposed to multiple and often excessive demands in their work environment. Low-intensity internet interventions allow them to benefit from psychological support even when institutional help is not available. Focusing on enhancing psychological resources—self-efficacy and perceived social support—makes an intervention relevant for various occupations within the medical profession. Previously, these resources were found to operate both individually or sequentially with self-efficacy either preceding social support (cultivation process) or following it (enabling process). Objective The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the efficacy of 4 variants of Med-Stress, a self-guided internet intervention that aims to improve the multifaceted well-being of medical professionals. Methods This study was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N=1240) were recruited mainly via media campaigns and social media targeted ads. They were assigned to 1 of the following 4 groups: experimental condition reflecting the cultivation process, experimental condition reflecting the enabling process, active comparator enhancing only self-efficacy, and active comparator enhancing only perceived social support. Outcomes included 5 facets of well-being: job stress, job burnout, work engagement, depression, and job-related traumatic stress. Measurements were taken on the web at baseline (time 1), immediately after intervention (time 2), and at a 6-month follow-up (time 3). To analyze the data, linear mixed effects models were used on the intention-to-treat sample. The trial was partially blinded as the information about the duration of the trial, which was different for experimental and control conditions, was public. Results At time 2, job stress was lower in the condition reflecting the cultivation process than in the one enhancing social support only (d=−0.21), and at time 3, participants in that experimental condition reported the lowest job stress when compared with all 3 remaining study groups (ds between −0.24 and −0.41). For job-related traumatic stress, we found a significant difference between study groups only at time 3: stress was lower in the experimental condition in which self-efficacy was enhanced first than in the active comparator enhancing solely social support (d=−0.24). The same result was found for work engagement (d=−0.20), which means that it was lower in exactly the same condition that was found beneficial for stress relief. There were no differences between study conditions for burnout and depression neither at time 2 nor at time 3. There was a high dropout in the study (1023/1240, 82.50% at posttest), reflecting the pragmatic nature of this trial. Conclusions The Med-Stress internet intervention improves some components of well-being—most notably job stress—when activities are completed in a specific sequence. The decrease in work engagement could support the notion of dark side of this phenomenon, but further research is needed. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03475290; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03475290 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) RR2-10.1186/s13063-019-3401-9

scholarly journals Resource-Based Internet Intervention (Med-Stress) to Improve Well-Being Among Medical Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewelina Smoktunowicz ◽  
Magdalena Lesnierowska ◽  
Per Carlbring ◽  
Gerhard Andersson ◽  
Roman Cieslak
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Internet Intervention ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Active Comparator ◽  
Cultivation Process

BACKGROUND Medical professionals are exposed to multiple and often excessive demands in their work environment. Low-intensity internet interventions allow them to benefit from psychological support even when institutional help is not available. Focusing on enhancing psychological resources—self-efficacy and perceived social support—makes an intervention relevant for various occupations within the medical profession. Previously, these resources were found to operate both individually or sequentially with self-efficacy either preceding social support (cultivation process) or following it (enabling process). OBJECTIVE The objective of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the efficacy of 4 variants of Med-Stress, a self-guided internet intervention that aims to improve the multifaceted well-being of medical professionals. METHODS This study was conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N=1240) were recruited mainly via media campaigns and social media targeted ads. They were assigned to 1 of the following 4 groups: experimental condition reflecting the cultivation process, experimental condition reflecting the enabling process, active comparator enhancing only self-efficacy, and active comparator enhancing only perceived social support. Outcomes included 5 facets of well-being: job stress, job burnout, work engagement, depression, and job-related traumatic stress. Measurements were taken on the web at baseline (time 1), immediately after intervention (time 2), and at a 6-month follow-up (time 3). To analyze the data, linear mixed effects models were used on the intention-to-treat sample. The trial was partially blinded as the information about the duration of the trial, which was different for experimental and control conditions, was public. RESULTS At time 2, job stress was lower in the condition reflecting the cultivation process than in the one enhancing social support only (<i>d</i>=−0.21), and at time 3, participants in that experimental condition reported the lowest job stress when compared with all 3 remaining study groups (<i>ds</i> between −0.24 and −0.41). For job-related traumatic stress, we found a significant difference between study groups only at time 3: stress was lower in the experimental condition in which self-efficacy was enhanced first than in the active comparator enhancing solely social support (<i>d</i>=−0.24). The same result was found for work engagement (<i>d</i>=−0.20), which means that it was lower in exactly the same condition that was found beneficial for stress relief. There were no differences between study conditions for burnout and depression neither at time 2 nor at time 3. There was a high dropout in the study (1023/1240, 82.50% at posttest), reflecting the pragmatic nature of this trial. CONCLUSIONS The Med-Stress internet intervention improves some components of well-being—most notably job stress—when activities are completed in a specific sequence. The decrease in work engagement could support the notion of dark side of this phenomenon, but further research is needed. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03475290; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03475290 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-10.1186/s13063-019-3401-9

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a Technology-Based Supportive Educational Parenting Program on Parental Outcomes in Singapore: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shefaly Shorey ◽  
Yvonne Peng Mei Ng ◽  
An Ling Siew ◽  
Joanne Yoong ◽  
Evalotte M�relius
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Transition To Parenthood ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Parenting Program ◽  
Randomized Controlled

BACKGROUND Supportive educational programs during the perinatal period are scarce in Singapore. There is no continuity of care available in terms of support from community care nurses in Singapore. Parents are left on their own most of the time, which results in a stressful transition to parenthood. There is a need for easily accessible technology-based educational programs that can support parents during this crucial perinatal period. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the study protocol of a randomized controlled trial on a technology-based supportive educational parenting program. METHODS A randomized controlled two-group pretest and repeated posttest experimental design will be used. The study will recruit 118 parents (59 couples) from the antenatal clinics of a tertiary public hospital in Singapore. Eligible parents will be randomly allocated to receive either the supportive educational parenting program or routine perinatal care from the hospital. Outcome measures include parenting self-efficacy, parental bonding, postnatal depression, social support, parenting satisfaction, and cost evaluation. Data will be collected at the antenatal period, immediate postnatal period, and at 1 month and 3 months post childbirth. RESULTS Recruitment of the study participants commenced in December 2016 and is still ongoing. Data collection is projected to finish within 12 months, by December 2017. CONCLUSIONS This study will identify a potentially clinically useful, effective, and cost-effective supportive educational parenting program to improve parental self-efficacy and bonding in newborn care, which will then improve parents’ social support–seeking behaviors, emotional well-being, and satisfaction with parenting. It is hoped that better supported and satisfied parents will consider having more children, which may in turn influence Singapore’s ailing birth rate. CLINICALTRIAL International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN): 48536064; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN48536064 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6wMuEysiO)

scholarly journals Work Engagement and Associated Factors Among Dental Nurses in China

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujing Wang ◽  
Yuqin Gao ◽  
Yang Xun
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Psychological Characteristics ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Subjective Well Being

Abstract Aim: To identify the level of work engagement among dental nurses in China and explore the correlation between work engagement and psychological characteristics.Background: Work engagement is affected by many factors, level of work engagement among dental nurses is unknown.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 215 dental nurses. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-9), Chinese Nurse Stressors Scale (CNSS), Work-related Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (WAAQ), Multi-Dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), and General Well-Being Schedule (GWBS) were applied to measure Chinese nurses’ work engagement, job stress, psychological flexibility, perceived social support and subjective well-being respectively. Univariate analysis was used to identify the relationships of work engagement with demographic and psychological characteristics. Hierarchical regression analysis was applied to test the variance in work engagement accounted for by factors related to work engagement in the univariate analysis.Results: The level of work engagement in Chinese dental nurses was moderate or above. Work engagement was positively associated with perceived social support, psychological flexibility and subjective well-being but negatively correlated with job stress. The hierarchical regression analysis showed that job stress, psychological flexibility and subjective well-being were significantly correlated with work engagement, which explained 36.2% of the variance in work engagement.Conclusions: Dental nurses in China had an acceptable level of work engagement in terms of vigour, dedication and absorption. Increased job stress would result in lower work engagement. Nurses who had higher levels of psychological flexibility and subjective well-being also had higher work engagement. We should emphasize the job stress of nurses, strengthen support for organizational culture, create a good work environment and interpersonal relationships, relieve nurses’ job stress, improve nurses’ levels of subjective well-being, and thus improve nurses’ work engagement levels.

scholarly journals Work engagement and associated factors among dental nurses in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujing Wang ◽  
Yuqin Gao ◽  
Yang Xun
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Psychological Flexibility ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Well Being

Abstract Background Work engagement is affected by many factors. The level of work engagement among dental nurses is unknown. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among 215 dental nurses. The Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Chinese Nurse Stressors Scale, Work-related Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and General Well-Being Schedule were applied to measure Chinese nurses’ work engagement, job stress, psychological flexibility, perceived social support and subjective well-being, respectively. Univariate analysis was used to identify the relationships of work engagement with demographic and psychological characteristics. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was applied to test the variance in work engagement accounted for by factors related to work engagement in the univariate analysis. Results The level of work engagement among Chinese dental nurses was moderate or above. Work engagement was positively associated with perceived social support, psychological flexibility and subjective well-being but negatively correlated with job stress. The hierarchical regression analysis showed that age, job stress, psychological flexibility and subjective well-being were significantly correlated with work engagement, though perceived social support was not, all of those psychological variables together explained 34.7% of the variance in work engagement. Conclusions Dental nurses in China had an acceptable level of work engagement in terms of vigour, dedication and absorption. Increased job stress resulted in lower work engagement. Nurses who had higher levels of perceived social support, psychological flexibility and subjective well-being also had higher work engagement. It is necessary to understand the job stress of nurses, strengthen nurses’ social support, relieve nurses’ job stress, improve nurses’ psychological flexibility and subjective well-being, which will improve nurses’ work engagement levels.

Social support and well-being in dementia family caregivers: The mediating role of self-efficacy

2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 761-768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alma Au ◽  
Man-Kin Lai ◽  
Kam-Mei Lau ◽  
Pey-Chyou Pan ◽  
Linda Lam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Family Caregivers ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mediating Role

scholarly journals A randomized wait-list controlled trial of a social support intervention for caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumor

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maija Reblin ◽  
Dana Ketcher ◽  
Rachael McCormick ◽  
Veronica Barrios-Monroy ◽  
Steven K. Sutton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Wait List ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Caregiver Support ◽  
Support Intervention ◽  
Link Type ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Abstract Background Informal family caregivers constitute an important and increasingly demanding role in the cancer healthcare system. This is especially true for caregivers of patients with primary malignant brain tumors based on the rapid progression of disease, including physical and cognitive debilitation. Informal social network resources such as friends and family can provide social support to caregivers, which lowers caregiver burden and improves overall quality of life. However, barriers to obtaining needed social support exist for caregivers. To address this need, our team developed and is assessing a multi-component caregiver support intervention that uses a blend of technology and personal contact to improve caregiver social support. Methods We are currently conducting a prospective, longitudinal 2-group randomized controlled trial which compares caregivers who receive the intervention to a wait-list control group. Only caregivers directly receive the intervention, but the patient-caregiver dyads are enrolled so we can assess outcomes in both. The 8-week intervention consists of two components: (1) The electronic Social Network Assessment Program, a web-based tool to visualize existing social support resources and provide a tailored list of additional resources; and (2) Caregiver Navigation, including weekly phone sessions with a Caregiver Navigator to address caregiver social support needs. Outcomes are assessed by questionnaires completed by the caregiver (baseline, 4-week, 8-week) and the cancer patient (baseline, and 8-week). At 8 weeks, caregivers in the wait-list condition may opt into the intervention. Our primary outcome is caregiver well-being; we also explore patient well-being and caregiver and patient health care utilization. Discussion This protocol describes a study testing a novel social support intervention that pairs a web-based social network visualization tool and resource list (eSNAP) with personalized caregiver navigation. This intervention is responsive to a family-centered model of care and calls for clinical and research priorities focused on informal caregiving research. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov, Registration number: NCT04268979; Date of registration: February 10, 2020, retrospectively registered.

scholarly journals Rasgos de personalidad y recursos psicológicos como predictores del bienestar emocional en adolescentes con y sin formación en escuelas de tauromaquia

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Pilar Sanjuan ◽  
David Guillen ◽  
Ana María Pérez-García
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Openness To Experience ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychological Resources ◽  
Avoidance Coping ◽  
School Group

 Abstract: Personality traits and psychological resources as predictors of emotional well-being in adolescents with and without training in bullfighting schools. The main objective of this study was to analyse how being in training in bullfighting schools can affect the emotional well-being (EW), the personality and the psychological resources of adolescents. The sample consisted of 196 boys, 95 from bullfighting school group (BSG) and 101 from a control group (CG). The BSG, in relation to CG, scored significantly more on conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness to experience, as well as on self-efficacy, problem-solving (PSC) and social support coping (SSC), and EW. The EW was predicted by feeling self-efficacy and not using avoidance coping, and in the CG by being extraverted, showing conscientiousness, being low in neuroticism, feeling self-efficacy and using PSC and SSC. It discusses the psychological adaptive profile of adolescents in the BSG and the need to promote well-being in adolescence through the promotion of self-efficacy and active coping.Resumen: El objetivo principal de este estudio fue analizar cómo la formación en escuelas de tauromaquia puede afectar al bienestar emocional (BE), la personalidad y los recursos psicológicos de los adolescentes. Participaron 196 chicos, 95 del grupo de escuelas taurinas (GET) y 101 del grupo control (GC). El GET, en relación con el GC, puntuaba significativamente más en tesón, afabilidad y apertura, así como en autoeficacia, afrontamiento de solución de problemas (ASP) y basado en los demás (AD), y BE. El BE se predecía en el GET por sentirse eficaz y no usar el afrontamiento de evitación, y en el GC por ser extravertido, mostrar tesón, ser bajo en neuroticismo, sentirse eficaz y emplear el ASP y AD. Se discute sobre el perfil psicológico adaptativo que presentan los adolescentes del GET y la necesidad de promover el bienestar en la adolescencia mediante el fomento de la autoeficacia y el afrontamiento activo.

scholarly journals Self-esteem and social support in the occupational stress-subjective health relationship among medical professionals

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Ostrowski
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Occupational Stress ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Negative Feedback ◽  
Feedback Loop ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Subjective Health ◽  
Medical Professionals ◽  
Negative Feedback Loop ◽  
The Impact

Self-esteem and social support in the occupational stress-subjective health relationship among medical professionals The starting point for the presented study was the concept by House who construed social support as buffering the impact of work-related stress on health. Self-esteem was taken under consideration as the other potential stress buffer. It was hypothesized that both social support and self-esteem would have a salutogenic effect, since they attenuate the experience of occupational stress and reduce health problems associated with the experienced job stress. Participants in the study were 361 medical professionals representing various specialties. They were examined using the Subjective Job Evaluation Questionnaire by Dudek et al., the Mood and Health State Questionnaire by Rząsa, the Self-Esteem Scale by M. Rosenberg and Significant Other Scale by Power et al. The higher was the respondents' occupational stress, the poorer was their subjective physical health. Such components of occupational stress as responsibility, psychological strain due to job complexity, lack of rewards at work, and a sense of threat were found to be most important in this respect. These four components of occupational stress were interrelated and constituted a feedback loop. The study confirmed a salutogenic role of self-esteem, contributing to subjective health improvement. Satisfaction with social support had also a positive role, since it reduced the amount of experienced job stress, thus exerting a health-promoting effect. There was a direct negative feedback loop between self-esteem and somatic health problems. Irrespective of that, satisfaction with social support was found to interact with perceived occupational stress in a negative feedback loop. However, neither of these two factors, i.e. self-esteem and social support, had an effect of buffering the impact of occupational stress on health. This suggests that the initial model proposed by House as well as the present author's earlier research findings obtained from a smaller sample should be revised.

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