Effects of a peer coaching intervention for occupational physicians on time allocated to preventive tasks: a cluster...

To support occupational physicians (OPs) in the execution of preventive tasks, a peer coaching intervention was developed and implemented in existing peer groups. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the intervention on OPs' execution of preventive tasks in practice.

A total of 41 peer groups, including 231 OPs, participated in this cluster randomised controlled trial, of which 21 groups were assigned to the intervention group (N=106) and 20 to the control group (N=125). The intervention consisted of three peer coaching meetings aimed to promote the execution of preventive tasks. Data regarding the execution of preventive tasks, measured as percentage of their working time and hours allocated to specific preventive tasks, were collected at baseline, 6-month and 12-month follow-up. The effect of the intervention was examined by linear multilevel analysis.

Both the intervention and control group increased the percentage of working time allocated to prevention, from 14% at baseline to 17% at 12-month follow-up, but no significant differences between the study groups were found. For specific preventive tasks, the intervention group increased their time allocated to giving secondary prevention advice by 5 monthly hours compared with baseline.

The intervention was found not to have an effect on the percentage of working time allocated to prevention, possibly due to contextual factors. However, intervention effects were found for giving secondary preventive advice. Future studies should focus on the willingness of employers and occupational health and safety to invest in prevention and refinement of the intervention under study.

ISRCTN15394765.