Is staff well-being and communication enhanced by multidisciplinary work shift evaluations?
OBJECTIVE
To study the implementation of multidisciplinary structured work shift evaluations at a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to enhance team communication.


METHODS
Prospective, repeated measurements design, comparison of pre/post measurements and process measures in a Dutch tertiary care, university-affiliated PICU.


METHODS
All 61 PICU staff members.


METHODS
Implementing multidisciplinary structured work shift evaluations. Before the implementation phase the PICU team received feedback training and eight participants (four physicians, four nurses) were trained as "work shift evaluation leader."


RESULTS
Outcome measures covered: (a) quality and process of the implementation through prestructured checklists during the 3 months of implementation, (b) a subjective evaluation of a feedback training on team communication as anticipated action and on the level of communication (about patients and with colleagues), and (c) emotional exhaustion complaints and work-related fatigue. The interdisciplinary structured work shift evaluations were implemented successfully as planned during the work shift; all staff were trained ahead, and the process was followed almost completely. Almost two-thirds (62%) of the staff felt a positive influence on team communication. Almost all staff members (92%) were satisfied regarding communication with their colleagues after the intervention, compared to 76% before. Emotional exhaustion in the PICU team decreased significantly after the implementation, but no differences in work-related fatigue levels were found.


CONCLUSIONS
As organizational change the implementation of a multidisciplinary structured work shift evaluation at a PICU was successful and team communication improved. Emotional exhaustion decreased during the study period.
Sluiter
Judith K
JK
Coronel Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health, Academic Medical Center, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.sluiter@amc.uva.nl
Bos
Albert P
AP
Tol
Dirk
D
Calff
Mart
M
Krijnen
Margot
M
Frings-Dresen
Monique H W
MH
D003142:Communication; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology*