Customized interventions improved employees' experience of recovery during the workday.
Lina Ejlertsson, Bodil Heijbel, Annika Brorsson and 2 others
PMID 34633351WHAT IT FOUND
Employees in six primary care centres who chose their own recovery activities reported feeling more recovered during the workday after a year.
Reflection with colleagues was the strongest factor linked to this improvement. The specific activity responsible cannot be identified.
Key findings
01The intervention group showed a significant improvement in experiencing recovery during the workday compared to before the intervention, while the control group did not.
02In the intervention group after the year, reflection with co-workers was the most important factor associated with recovery during the workday.
03The contribution of any single recovery activity cannot be separated because employees chose from a variety of options and the intervention was delivered as one package.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study was not randomised; centres were selected based on interest and characteristics, which risks selection bias. The questionnaire was self-constructed and not extensively validated. Because employees chose from many different activities and the intervention was a package, it is impossible to know which specific activity caused the improvement. The study was conducted in a primary health care setting, so results may not generalise to other work contexts. Regression analyses were based on cross-sectional data, limiting causal interpretation. Lifestyle factors outside of work were not considered.
Declared interests
The paper does not state a funding source or conflict of interest declaration in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that implementing a specific activity like a lunch walk or deep breathing will improve recovery. The study shows that a customized, participatory approach where employees choose their own activities was associated with better recovery, but it cannot tell you which activity worked.