Using a Mixed Method Approach to Tailor the Implementation of a Participatory Total Worker Health® Program in Public Healthcare Facilities
Year: 2020
Type: preprint
Abstract: Background: The Total Worker Health program represents a holistic approach to advancing worker well-being that combines occupational safety and health practices with other workplace policies and programs that are not traditionally linked. Total Worker Health requires new types of interdisciplinary collaboration and programmatic coordination. Pre-implementation assessment is thus important to plan for successful organizational “fit” when the program is introduced. This study prospectively identified potential implementation facilitators and barriers among five public healthcare facilities that had already agreed to participate in a study to implement and evaluate the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program.Methods: A mixed methods baseline assessment comprised an online survey and follow-up interviews. Key organizational and labor leaders were asked to identify resources and skills available for successful program implementation; potential barriers inside or outside the organization; and key performance indicators. Findings were presented to implementation stakeholders in study sites and used for planning how to tailor implementation to fit the organizational context and to provide the resources needed for success. Results: Potential facilitators included leaders’ willingness and commitment to develop interventions addressing a broad range of occupational safety and well-being health priorities (consistent with Total Worker Health); existing staff expertise in occupational safety and health; favorable attitudes regarding expected program outcomes; and positive alignment between the program and organizational mission and values. Potential implementation barriers included limited staff time to attend meetings, limited resources to support locally designed interventions, and poor management communication systems. Examples of tailoring strategies included extending time and effort to recruit leaders and workers while gaining their trust and securing program resources; developing sample program communication templates to strength health and safety communication efforts; and providing detailed training around issue selection procedures, communication, local intervention development, and change management. Conclusions: The prospective identification of potential facilitators and barriers represents a useful strategy for tailoring the implementation of a participatory, Total Worker Health program. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 04251429. Registered January 31, 2020 – Retrospectively registered. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT04251429.
Source: Research Square
Institutions: University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of Connecticut
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4248428510