The mental vitality @ work study: effectiveness of a mental module for workers' health surveillance for nurses and allied health care professionals on their help-seeking behavior.

OBJECTIVES:

To study the effectiveness of a mental module for workers' health surveillance for health care workers.

METHODS:

Nurses and allied health care professionals from one organization were cluster-randomized at ward level to an intervention or control group. The intervention included screening for work functioning impairments and mental health complaints. Positively screened workers were invited to visit their occupational physician. Outcome measures, including help-seeking behavior, work functioning, and mental health, were assessed at baseline, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS:

An effect of study-group × time interaction on help-seeking behavior was found (P = 0.02). Workers in the intervention group showed less work functioning impairments over time than the control group (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION:

The module can be used to stimulate help seeking from the occupational physician and to improve functioning in workers with mild to moderate work functioning, mental health complaints, or both.

TRIAL NUMBER:

NTR2786.