Healthy Workplace Program for Educator Well-being

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: UConn Health

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the Educator Well-being Program, specifically the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program, can improve mental well-being by reducing stress, depression, and anxiety among teachers. The program will be tested in elementary schools, comparing those that receive the program immediately with those that receive it later. Teachers and staff in participating schools are well-suited for this trial. Those involved in the education community and interested in enhancing mental wellness may find this a valuable opportunity. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique chance to contribute to the development of mental wellness programs in educational settings.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program is safe for educators?

Research has shown that the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program (HWPP) has been implemented in settings such as hospitals and stores to promote worker health and safety. Studies have found that participants in these environments generally adapt well to the program. For example, a study involving grocery store workers used the HWPP to enhance health, with no major issues reported. The program aims to improve well-being and safety, and participants have mostly reported positive experiences. Although detailed information on side effects is lacking, the program's use across various settings suggests it is safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program because it offers a fresh approach to enhancing educator well-being. Unlike typical interventions that focus on individual stress management or mental health resources, this program involves a participatory process where staff actively engage in creating solutions tailored to their specific needs. This method empowers educators, fostering a sense of ownership and potentially leading to more sustainable improvements in workplace culture and personal well-being. By involving educators directly in the development of well-being strategies, the program aims to address the root causes of stress in educational settings more effectively than traditional top-down approaches.

What evidence suggests that the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program is effective for improving educator well-being?

Research has shown that the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program, which participants in this trial may experience, can improve teacher well-being by reducing stress and supporting mental health. Studies have found that this program helps schools create better work environments, leading to less stress and anxiety for teachers. Since teachers rank among the most stressed professionals, these improvements are crucial. Early results suggest that schools using this program see positive changes in staff mental health and the overall work atmosphere. This approach emphasizes collaboration to enhance the workplace and support teacher wellness. ^{3 4 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jennifer Cavallari, ScD

Principal Investigator

UConn Health

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is open to all staff members aged 18 or older working within the three school districts involved. There are no specific exclusion criteria, so it's quite inclusive for educators and other school staff.

Inclusion Criteria

I am over 18 and work in one of the three school districts.

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Implementation of the Educator Well-being Program among staff at participating schools

2 years

1-4 meetings per month

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in organizational-level factors and teacher mental well-being

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Healthy Workplace Participatory Program

Trial Overview The study is testing the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program (HWPP) in elementary schools using a stepped wedge design. It aims to see if this program can improve work environment factors and mental well-being of teachers, including stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Educator Well-being Program Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Staff at participating schools will experience the Educator Well-being Program process and complete pre- and post-intervention survey.

Group II: Delayed Intervention Active Control 1 Intervention

Status quo program remains in place with new ongoing data collection, then experimental intervention as above.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

UConn Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

218

Recruited

59,100+

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH/CDC)

Collaborator

Trials

44

Recruited

50,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04251429

Effectiveness of the Healthy Workplace Participatory ... Intervention research will entail effectiveness and cost-outcome analysis of the HWPP. Outcomes will be both generic indicators of employee well-being and ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35461229/

Scale-out of a Total Worker Health® approach for designing ... We conducted an exploratory scale-out pilot study to examine the adoption of the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program (HWPP), an evidence- ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-participatory-action-research-10-2022-09e1b

Healthy Workplace Program for Educator Well-being What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Healthy Workplace Participatory Program for educator well-being? Research shows that organization ...

4. csch.uconn.edu csch.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2206/2021/04/CSCH-Brief-Total-Worker-Health-%E2%80%93-A-New-Direction-in-Supporting-Teacher-Well-Being-May-2021.pdf

CSCH-Brief-Total-Worker-Health-–-A-New-Direction-in ... Teachers are tied with nurses as being the most stressed workers in the United States. A survey by the American Federation of Teachers shows 61% of teachers ...

5. uml.edu uml.edu/docs/HWPP-U%20Manual_8_21_2023_tcm18-374274.pdf

Healthy Workplace Participatory Program for Unions and ... Build skills in understaning worker health, safety, and well-being, effective meeting design and facilitation, building collaborative labor management.

6. uml.edu uml.edu/research/cph-new/research/total-teacher-health.aspx

Total Teacher Health (TTH) | Research The Total Teacher Health (TTH) research project is a large and multi-phase research and intervention study focusing on the well-being of educators.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6406806/

Implementation of the Healthy Workplace Participatory ... We conducted a participatory health promotion program with grocery store workers using the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program (HWPP)