Workforce wellbeing centres and their positive role for wellbeing and presenteeism in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: secondary analysis of COVID-Well data

Blake, Holly; Mancini, Helen; Coyne, Emma; Cooper, Joanne; Stanulewicz-Buckley, Natalia

Abstract

Background
Supported wellbeing centres established during the COVID-19 pandemic provided high quality rest spaces and access to peer-to-peer psychological first aid for healthcare workers (HCWs). The centres were well accessed and valued by HCWs, but their relationship with wellbeing and job-related factors is not well established. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between wellbeing centre use, HCWs wellbeing and job-related factors (job stressfulness, job satisfaction, presenteeism, turnover intentions).

Methods
Secondary analysis of data from 819 HCWs from an acute hospital trust who completed an online survey in April-July 2020, as part of the COVID-Well study. Measures included the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, and four single-item global measures of job stressfulness, job satisfaction, presenteeism and turnover intentions. ANCOVA models and regression analyses were conducted on these data.

Results
HCWs who had not accessed the wellbeing centres had lower wellbeing (β = 0.12, p < .001), higher job stressfulness (β = − 0.22, p < .001), lower job satisfaction (β = 0.39, p < .001), higher presenteeism (β = − 0.22, p < .001) and were of younger age (β = 0.09, p = .002). Centre use was associated with wellbeing irrespective of job stressfulness. Those reporting presenteeism and who accessed the centre (M = 3.30, SE = 0.04) had higher wellbeing than those who accessed the centre but did not report presenteeism (M = 3.06, SE = 0.04) (F(1, 791) = 18.65, p < .001, ηp2 = 0.02). Centre use was not significantly associated with turnover intentions (B = − 0.30, p = .13; Wald = 2.26; odds = 0.74), while job stress and job satisfaction showed significant effects.

Conclusions
Accessing wellbeing centres was associated with higher wellbeing of HCWs, particularly for those reporting presenteeism. Therefore, the centres may have provided greatest respite and restoration for those present at work but not in optimal health. Younger workers were disproportionately affected in terms of wellbeing, and targeted support for this population is needed. Strategies to decrease presenteeism and maximise job satisfaction are urgently required. Healthcare organisations should provide rest spaces and psychological support to HCWs for the long-term, as part of a systems-wide approach to improving workforce health and wellbeing.

Citation

Blake, H., Mancini, H., Coyne, E., Cooper, J., & Stanulewicz-Buckley, N. (2024). Workforce wellbeing centres and their positive role for wellbeing and presenteeism in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: secondary analysis of COVID-Well data. BMC Health Services Research, 24(1), Article 302. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10730-9

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 15, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Mar 6, 2024
• Publication Date: Mar 6, 2024
• Deposit Date: Feb 16, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 6, 2024
• Journal: BMC Health Services Research
• Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 24
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 302
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10730-9
• Keywords: COVID-19, Wellbeing, Pandemic, Healthcare workers, Presenteeism, Workforce
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/31450643
• Publisher URL: https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-024-10730-9
• Additional Information: Received: 28 November 2022; Accepted: 15 February 2024; First Online: 6 March 2024; : ; : The study was carried out in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration. The intervention was delivered in accordance with the British Psychological Society Code of Ethics and Conduct. The research was reviewed and approved by University of Nottingham Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Ref. 16–0520). Potential participants were signposted to an online participant information sheet containing a link to an online survey. The information sheet indicated that participants could choose whether or not to take part, and that they were providing informed consent to participate by submitting their responses.; : Not applicable.; : H.M., E.C., and J.C. were employed by the participating hospital trust at the time of the study but were not involved in data curation or analysis. H.M. and E.C. were involved in service delivery. H.B. and N.S.B. declare no conflicts of interest.