Exploring Transfer Potentials of the IMPROVE job Intervention for Strengthening Workplace Health Management in Micro-, Small-, and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Germany: A Qualitative Study

Anke Wagner; Brigitte Werners; Claudia Pieper; Anna-Lisa Eilerts; Tanja Seifried-Dübon; Matthias Grot; Florian Junne; Birgitta M Weltermann; Monika A Rieger; Esther Rind; IMPROVEjob-Consortium

doi:10.3390/ijerph20054067

Exploring Transfer Potentials of the IMPROVE job Intervention for Strengthening Workplace Health Management in Micro-, Small-, and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Germany: A Qualitative Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 24;20(5):4067. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054067.

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital Tübingen, Wilhelmstr. 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany.
² Operations Research, Institute of Management, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
³ Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147 Essen, Germany.
⁴ Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Tübingen, Osianderstr. 5, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
⁵ Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus. 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany.

Abstract

Micro- and small-sized enterprises (MSE), and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Germany are often burdened with high levels of psychosocial stressors at work. The IMPROVEjob intervention was originally developed for general practice teams, and aims to promote job satisfaction and reduce psychosocial stressors in the context of workplace health management (WHM). This qualitative study identified challenges and transfer options regarding the transfer of the IMPROVEjob intervention to other MSE/SME settings. Based on previous study results, a comprehensive, qualitative inter- and transdisciplinary approach was developed and conducted between July 2020 and June 2021, also including single interviews and focus group discussion with eleven experts from MSE/SME settings. Data analysis was carried out using a rapid analysis approach. The experts discussed psychosocial topics and didactic formats of the original IMPROVEjob intervention. A lack of access to information on managing work-related psychosocial stressors and inadequate recognition of the importance of psychosocial stressors in the workplace among managers and employees, seemed to be the highest barriers regarding the transfer of the intervention into other MSE/SME settings. The transfer of the IMPROVEjob intervention to other MSE/SME settings requires an adapted intervention format, comprising targeted offers with easy access to information on managing work-related psychosocial stressors and improving WHM in MSE/SME settings.

Keywords: Germany; focus group discussion; job satisfaction; micro- and small-sized enterprises (MSE); psychosocial stressors; rapid data analysis; single interviews; small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME); workplace health management (WHM).

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Focus Groups
Germany
Health Promotion*
Humans
Qualitative Research
Workplace*

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (FKZ 01GL1751 A, B, C and FKZ 01GL1851D). The BMBF had no role in the design of the study, data collection, analysis of data, interpretation of data, and dissemination of findings. The work of the Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research Tübingen is supported by an unrestricted grant of the Employers’ Association of the Metal and Electric Industry Baden-Wuerttemberg (Südwestmetall). We acknowledge support from the Open Access Publishing Fund of the University of Tübingen.