Improving the Psychosocial Work Environment to Prevent Sickness Absence and Turnover in Nurses: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• High rates of sickness absence (SA) and turnover among nurses incur significant costs.
• Work-related psychosocial factors (WRPFs) impact nurse mental health, contributing to SA and turnover.
• Effectiveness of interventions targeting WRPFs for SA and turnover prevention lacks consensus.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review interventions targeting WRPFs to reduce SA and turnover in nurses.
• To describe evaluation methods for these interventions.
• To report on their effectiveness in improving SA, turnover rates, and turnover intention.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of eight online databases.
• Inclusion of empirical studies on interventions targeting WRPFs for SA/turnover reduction.
• Methodological quality assessment using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument.

Main Results:

• Fourteen articles on 13 interventions met inclusion criteria.
• Interventions targeted individuals, groups, leaders, and organizations, focusing on bullying, lateral violence, and leadership.
• Results on effectiveness for SA and turnover behaviors/intention were inconsistent.

Conclusions:

• Current interventions targeting WRPFs for nurse SA and turnover show inconsistent effectiveness.
• Innovative interventions and sophisticated evaluation methods are required.
• Further research is needed to develop and implement effective strategies for nurse retention and well-being.