Clinical Research Directory

Effectiveness of the Educator Well-being Program

Using a stepped wedge design (prospective cohort with concurrent controls) among six paired, elementary schools, investigators will implement and evaluate the Educator Well-being Program. The investigators will evaluate whether the process improves organizational-level factors, teacher mental well-being (stress, depression and anxiety symptoms).

Impact of Stress First Aid for Workers in Substance Misuse Settings

Test the effectiveness of SFA adapted for the substance use outreach workforce compared to a no treatment control condition on social-support and burnout of HRWs in a cluster-randomized hybrid type I trial.

Workplace Violence and Safety Perception Among ENT Physicians in Turkey

This multicenter, cross-sectional survey study aims to evaluate the perceived level of safety and security against workplace violence among otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (ENT-HNS) physicians in Turkey. The study investigates the association between exposure to workplace violence and perceived safety, as well as the adequacy of institutional support mechanisms. Data will be collected through an anonymous online questionnaire distributed nationwide. The findings are expected to contribute to awareness and the development of preventive strategies and institutional safety policies for healthcare professionals.

Office Massage Effects on HRV and Stress

This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to investigate which of three short office massage types (head, neck/shoulder area, or hand) is most effective for reducing chronic stress in women who perform sedentary office work. Many sedentary female office employees experience long-term tension and work-related strain, which can affect the body's ability to recover. The investigators are testing whether a 15-minute massage, performed twice a week for four weeks, can help restore balance within the body. The investigators will evaluate the impact of these massages using Heart Rate Variability (HRV)-an objective measure that shows how well the body manages stress (autonomic nervous system balance)-as well as analyzing participants' self-reported levels of perceived stress, sleep quality, and overall well-being. Participants receiving massage will be compared to a control group engaging in quiet rest.

French Military Firefighters to Assess Relationships Between Exposome and Health.

The aim of the study is to describe professional exposures and health events among French military firefighters (both active-duty personnel and veterans) and identify potential relationships between the exposome (the total history of occupational and personal exposures) and health status in these populations. The study is based on a self-administered questionnaire that collects retrospective and present information about exposures and health conditions.

Implementation of the ASCEND Training for Supervisors in Dutch Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)

This cluster randomized controlled trial (cRCT) aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an in-person group intervention for workplace supervisors - Advancing Supervisors' Capacity for Mental Health at Work (ASCEND) - in Dutch Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The ASCEND intervention is designed to equip supervisors with the skills to: i) know when to support their workers; ii) how to direct workers to support, and iii) advocate for action on mental health at work. The primary objectives of this project are to: * Assess to what extent the novel, WHO-developed ASCEND intervention is effective in enhancing supervisors' confidence, responsiveness, mental health literacy, and SelfCare practices, and in reducing supervisor stigma towards mental health conditions within Dutch SMEs. * Evaluate the impact of the ASCEND intervention on employee outcomes, including mental health and work-related outcomes among supervisees (i.e., subordinates), as well as overall organizational absenteeism rates. * Identify barriers, facilitators, and key implementation and adoption indicators to support future opportunities for scaling up the ASCEND intervention in the context of Dutch SMEs. Researchers will compare two groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the ASCEND intervention. One group will receive the training (the intervention group), while the other group will receive the training after the final follow-up period (the control group). Data will be collected from both supervisors and their supervisees (i.e., subordinates) via online questionnaires at various time points. In addition, general organizational information, including absenteeism rates, will be gathered through a representative from each participating organization. To further explore the feasibility of scaling up the ASCEND intervention within the Netherlands, qualitative data will be collected through interviews and/or focus group discussions.

HEalthCAre Workers' Health: a Transversal Evaluation

The research focuses on assessing the overall health of residents at the Cochin Port Royal hospital Group. * physical health * Mental health: detection of signs of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, etc. * Sexual health * Quality of medical care (dental, gynecological) * Knowledge of risk prevention, particularly infectious risks, in the workplace.

Non-Invasive System to Deliver Therapeutic Hypothermia for Protection Against Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

The goal of this interventional clinical study is to investigate the use of mild therapeutic hypothermia devices for preservation of sensory structures in the cochlea after noise exposure. The main aims of the study are: 1. To test the safety and best duration for use for a new hypothermia device. 2. To determine if the hypothermia device helps decrease noise-induced hearing loss in a group of firefighters. Participants will wear the mild therapeutic hypothermia therapy devices immediately after a fire service shift serially over a year. Researchers will compare results from those receiving the therapy to those from a control group (individuals receiving no therapy and a sham therapy).

A Randomized Controlled Evaluation of a Compassion-course for Healthcare Professionals

The aim is to investigate whether an internet-based compassion course of five modules contributes to reducing stress of conscience and work-related stress, increase the experience of professional quality of life and self-compassion in healthcare professionals.

A Structured Method for Systematic and Integrated Occupational Safety and Health and Patient Safety Management Systems

The evidence unequivocally supports the association between work environment and patient safety. The negative impact of working conditions on both employee health and quality of care highlights the potential benefits of integrating these areas. It is therefore suggested that integrated systematic occupational health and patient safety management are crucial in managing the challenges faced by healthcare services today. The project aims to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a structured method for systematic and integrated occupational safety and health and patient safety management systems (SIOHPS). A process evaluation will be conducted alongside the main study to determine the intervention's specific outcomes and provide transferable guidance to a wider context. The intervention is designed to support both systematic occupational health and patient safety management systems using a Safety II-perspective. The intervention is comprised of several core components, including education to staff, support-functions and management, daily team reflections; as well as audit and feedback. A stepped wedge cluster-controlled design (SWD) will be used, with workplaces as clusters. The SWD will consist of three steps, with four clusters crossing over from the control to the intervention group at each step. All clusters will start as controls. At least twelve healthcare units with at least thirty employees per workplace from two different regions in Sweden will participate in the intervention. Workplaces that provide round-the-clock care are invited to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria are units with plans to implement any other occupational health and/or patient safety improvement work during the project period. At the individual level, inclusion criteria for employees include at least 50% of full-time work at the workplace. The SIOHPS project will contribute to the existing theory on safety culture interventions by considering the integration of these areas. The goal is to contribute to a safe environment for both employees and patients.

Using Cognitive-Behavioral Change and Mobile Technology to Improve RN Sleep and Fatigue

The U.S. registered nurse (RN) workforce is the largest in the Healthcare and Social Assistance Sector and is at high risk for injuries and errors due to poor sleep and fatigue. Shift work (i.e., nights, evenings, rotating shifts) can contribute to RNs not obtaining adequate, restful sleep. Work intensity, including heavy physical and emotional workloads of caring for critically ill patients, can contribute to job stress, resulting in spill-over effects at home when RNs experience difficulties falling and staying asleep. To address work and home sleep barriers, this project proposes the development and pilot testing of RN-SLEEP, a skill-building mobile application designed to improve sleep. RN-SLEEP will provide a convenient, flexible space to learn sleep-enhancing evidence-based shift work-specific strategies, and cognitive-behavioral methods, (e.g., goal setting, relaxation training). Using NIOSH's Research 2 Practice (R2P) approach, the study team will collaborate with participants (N=18-24) from an RN union to refine RN-SLEEP content, integrating current sleep literature (including National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health \[NIOSH\] material) with cognitive-behavioral based training. RN-SLEEP will be pilot-tested using a two-group pretest-posttest study design, comparing sleep outcome measures (duration, quality) of RN-SLEEP participant users (n=38) with participants from an education control group (n=38). Data trends on fatigue, what drives behavior change (beliefs and self-efficacy), and other sleep outcome measures (timing, regularity, efficiency, daytime sleepiness) will be explored. RN-SLEEP goals align with Healthy People 2030, NIOSH's strategic goal to promote safe and healthy work design and well-being through two NIOSH Healthcare and Social Assistance Sector/Healthy Work Design Cross-Sector (HCSA/HWD) intermediate goals. HWD goal 7.2A is to conduct intervention research addressing fatigue (poor sleep sequela) due to suboptimal work designs (shift work) in the healthcare industry. HCSA/HWD goal 7.12A prioritizes interventions designed to impact work and non-work contributors to safety and health. This RN-SLEEP intervention aims to improve sleep by building skills that help RNs overcome obstacles to sleep from work and home, thus improving health and safety. Immediate outputs include a mobile app, designed and tested in collaboration with RNs, to improve sleep. Study results will be disseminated through our union collaborators, nursing conferences and journal publications, and our University's NIOSH-sponsored Education and Research Center social media outlets. Intermediate outcomes include enhancing RN sleep through training rarely available in nursing schools and traditional hospital health and safety training programs. Improving sleep can reduce fatigue and may decrease occupational injuries and errors. RN-SLEEP is adaptable, where future versions could be modified to meet the needs of other HCSA workers (i.e., nursing aides) and workers in other industries (e.g., oil and gas) scheduled to work non-standard work hours. End outcomes include integrating RN-SLEEP into a broader hospital organization intervention to mitigate fatigue risks.