Measuring Work-Related Stress in Primary Care in the Covid-19 Pandemic

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This prospective cohort study was designed to assess WRS amongst clinical and non-clinical staff in a primary healthcare setting using a validated tool with a view to developing an evidence base to form a historical and comparative record during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Detailed Description
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Work-related stress (WRS) is the second most common cause of occupational ill health in the United Kingdom. Studies suggest that during the Covid-19 pandemic, an increased prevalence of stress-related disorders was reported amongst healthcare workers. WRS can be assessed using the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Management Standards Indicator Tool (MSIT) and is used to compare changes to WRS across six domains over time. Lower scores in domains indicate higher WRS experienced by workers. Increases in the score in subsequent assessments indicate improvements to WRS. The MSIT was distributed to 23 primary care clinical and non-clinical staff in a medical centre in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom in March, 2019. 18 responses were received from 23 staff (78% response rate), establishing a baseline. In May, 2020, the authors decided to reanalyse the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on WRS upon the same population. The MSIT was redistributed in March 2021, with 14 responses from 20 staff (70% response rate). Microsoft Excel's data analysis was applied to the results. WRS across the practice increased by 7% in demands, 4% in control and 2% in role domains and improved by 3% in support, 3% in relationships and 2% in change domains. The results are in keeping with the global picture of evolving WRS amongst healthcare staff during the pandemic. Monitoring and addressing WRS regularly helps maintain system-wide resilience when faced with unexpected or unprecedented change. Comparing these results with WRS in other healthcare systems would be a useful next step.

Official Title
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Work-Related Stress Amongst a Primary Care Workforce in Greater Manchester, United Kingdom Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Conditions
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Occupational Stress, Covid19

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Management Standards Indicator Tool (MSIT) to measure work-related stress


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Primary healthcare staff working at the Gill Medical Centre for at least two months prior to assessment. Exclusion Criteria: Any staff member employed for less than two months, those who were off work due to non- stress related long-term leave or incomplete submissions.
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Healthcare Workers at the Gill Medical Centre<br>Clinical and non-clinical staff at the Gill Medical Centre will complete a validated stress questionnaire during the Covid-19 pandemic. A baseline was established in May, 2019. | Other: Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Management Standards Indicator Tool (MSIT) to measure work-related stress<br>* Questionnaire<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Measurement of stress across the workforce | Work-related stress (WRS) is measured using the Management Standards Indicator Tool (MSIT) on a Likert scale of 1-5 with a higher number indicating less WRS. A measurement is made at baseline and during the Covid-19 pandemic. | 24 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Measurement of stress by type of role | WRS measured using MSIT across three different primary healthcare roles - doctors, other clinicians and administrators - at baseline from 2019 and during the Covid-19 pandemic | 24 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Pandemics, Primary health care