Healthcare Professionals in German Psychiatric-psychosomatic Clinical Practice: Theory Guided Evaluation of Work-related Challenges.
Healthcare Professionals in German Psychiatric-psychosomatic Clinical Practice: Theory Guided Evaluation of Work-related Challenges.
The aim of this project is to evaluate the work-related challenges faced by healthcare professionals (nurses, psychologists, and doctors) in German psychiatric-psychosomatic clinics. By applying the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this study investigates how job demands and resources influence job satisfaction, turnover intention, and subjective service quality. Special focus is given to the roles of burnout, engagement, and psychological safety as mediators and moderators in these relationships.
The project consists of two phases. In Phase 1, a cross-sectional online survey targeting healthcare professionals in psychiatric-psychosomatic clinics across Germany is conducted to identify key factors affecting well-being and performance in mental health settings. In Phase 2, a participatory co-design workshop with multiprofessional healthcare professionals is conducted to further explore work-related challenges, supportive factors, interprofessional collaboration, and possible practical support approaches for the clinical work environment.
The findings will contribute to a better understanding of work-related experiences in psychiatric-psychosomatic care and support the development of feasible and practice-oriented approaches to improve working conditions and service quality.
This study uses an online questionnaire to collect data from healthcare professionals (nurses, psychologists, and doctors) working in psychiatric-psychosomatic clinics in Germany. The survey aims to assess their experiences and perceptions regarding work-related challenges, job demands, and resources, as well as their impact on job satisfaction, turnover intention, and subjective service quality. The study applies the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model to explore the relationships between these factors, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of burnout and engagement and the moderating role of psychological safety.
In addition to the quantitative survey component, the project also includes a qualitative participatory co-design phase. This phase consists of a structured workshop with multiprofessional healthcare professionals working in psychiatric-psychosomatic care. The workshop aims to explore everyday work-related challenges, supportive factors, interprofessional collaboration, and possible approaches to support healthcare professionals in their clinical work environment.
The workshop uses participatory and reflective group methods, including visual activation exercises, moderated group discussions, World Café elements, and co-creative idea development. Discussions focus on experiences of workload, supportive resources, practical challenges, and realistic approaches that may support healthcare professionals in their daily work. Audio recordings and visual workshop materials are used for qualitative analysis. Participation is voluntary, and all collected data are handled confidentially and in accordance with ethical and data protection regulations.
The survey will be conducted at a single time point, targeting 600 healthcare professionals (200 nurses, 200 psychologists, and 200 doctors) across various psychiatric-psychosomatic clinics in Germany. Data will be collected using standardized scales to ensure reliability and validity. Participants will be recruited via email invitations sent to clinics, with the survey distributed through the SoSci Survey platform. Participation is voluntary, and all data will be anonymized and handled in compliance with ethical and data protection regulations.
Main Research Questions are:
I. How do the surveyed resources and demands of healthcare professionals impact job satisfaction, turnover intention and subjective service quality? II. What roles do burnout, engagement, and psychological safety play as mediators and moderators in these relationships? III. What are the key challenges and resources identified by healthcare professionals in their daily work within psychiatric-psychosomatic settings? IV. Which practical and feasible support approaches do healthcare professionals identify within participatory co-design discussions regarding the clinical work environment in psychiatric-psychosomatic care?
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria: