Gesundheitsförderung, Stresserleben und Arbeitszufriedenheit bei Pflegeauszubildenden

Abstract

Background: Shortages of healthcare workers necessitate efforts to promote health and job satisfaction among nursing trainees. The objective was to examine whether participation in a three-part in-person workshop series (needs assessment, exercise, relaxation) leads to changes in health- and work-related outcomes among nursing trainees. Materials and methods: First-year nursing trainees were recruited for this quasi-randomized controlled trial (DRKS00026027). For each nursing school (n = 3), one class was assigned to the intervention group (IG; n = 47) or the wait list control group (WCG; n = 52). The primary outcome was perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS-10]). Secondary outcomes included other health- and work-related endpoints and workshop evaluation scores. Participants were issued an online-survey prior to the start of the first workshop and 0.5, 2.5, and 4 months after the last workshop (IG only). At 2.5 months, the WCG began the intervention. Results: After 0.5 months, PSS-10 scores improved in the IG, while scores decreased in the WCG. The between-group difference for PSS-10 total score was not significant (p = 0.06). But the difference between the groups was significant for the PSS-10 “helplessness” subscale (p = 0.01; d = 0.67 [95% confidence interval 0.14–1.20]). After 2.5 months no significant between-group difference for PSS-10 total score was found (p = 0.87). For the secondary outcomes, between-group differences were found (p < 0.05), suggesting changes occurred after 2.5 and 4 months. Overall ratings of workshop satisfaction were high (mean = 4.0; standard deviation = 1.0; scale 1–5). Conclusion: Long-term effectiveness of interventions targeting nursing trainees should be improved in order to counteract the harmful consequences of the group’s increasing work demands.