Developing a web-based stress management intervention for occupational support workers

Background. Occupational support workers in the mental healthcare sector are exposed to considerable occupational stress and have little access to stress management facilities. Aims. This article describes the process behind creating a web-based stress management intervention (SMI) for occupational support workers in the mental healthcare sector. Method. Mixed methods were used to inform the content of the web-based SMI, following MRC strategy for designing interventions and PRIMA-EF guidelines for best practice in SMI design. We conducted a literature review to ascertain the content of interventions that had been shown to be successful in reducing stress in mental healthcare populations. In addition, we conducted focus groups in order to assess specific stressors that individuals in the occupational support sector deemed to be important. Results. The literature review showed that a variety of methods had been successful for reducing occupational stress in the mental healthcare sector including: Relaxation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques, and skills training in; time management, problem-solving and communication. Individuals in the focus groups identified both personal and organisational stressors to be addressed in the intervention. Conclusions. This intervention was developed with reference to a design strategy, using input from the target population.