Digital Training Program for Line Managers (Managing Minds at Work): Protocol for a Feasibility Pilot Cluster...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Digital Health Interventions
• Workplace Mental Well-being

Background:

• Workplace mental health issues, including stress, anxiety, and depression, cause significant sickness absence.
• Line managers are crucial for preventing poor workplace mental health but often lack proactive management skills.
• The Managing Minds at Work (MMW) digital intervention was developed to equip managers with these essential skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot and feasibility test the Managing Minds at Work (MMW) digital training intervention.
• To assess the intervention's potential for improving line manager and direct report outcomes.
• To inform the design of future large-scale trials on workplace mental health.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, cluster randomized controlled trial with an intervention arm and a 3-month waitlist control group.
• Participants included line managers and their direct reports, completing questionnaires at baseline and follow-up.
• Feasibility metrics guided the study, with a minimum of 8 clusters sought for future trial planning.

Main Results:

• Recruitment successfully closed in January 2022, enrolling 24 organizations and 224 line managers.
• Data analysis was completed in August 2023.
• The study provides a foundation for understanding intervention uptake and impact.

Conclusions:

• Findings will offer insights into the usability and acceptability of the MMW digital intervention.
• The study's results are expected to inform the development of subsequent trials.
• This research supports the potential of digital training to enhance manager competencies in promoting workplace mental health.