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Variation, companionship and manageability important for recovery during working hours : A qualitative focus group study

Ejlertsson, Lina LU ; Heijbel, Bodil LU ; Troein, Margareta LU orcid and Brorsson, Annika LU (2018) In Work 61(1). p.149-156
Abstract

Lack of recovery from everyday strains and demands is connected to increased levels of stress-related problems and development of ill-health. There is much research on how to handle and prevent fatigue and stress in leisure time, but research on working time is more scarce. A recent study found that employees' experience of recovery during working hours was related to high self-rated health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the concept of recovery during working hours among primary health care workers. METHODS: Eight focus groups with 50 staff members, men and women, from different professions were conducted in the primary health care sector in southern Sweden. The analysis was inspired by systematic text condensation, a... (More)

Lack of recovery from everyday strains and demands is connected to increased levels of stress-related problems and development of ill-health. There is much research on how to handle and prevent fatigue and stress in leisure time, but research on working time is more scarce. A recent study found that employees' experience of recovery during working hours was related to high self-rated health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the concept of recovery during working hours among primary health care workers. METHODS: Eight focus groups with 50 staff members, men and women, from different professions were conducted in the primary health care sector in southern Sweden. The analysis was inspired by systematic text condensation, a strategy for qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Three main categories were identified as important factors for experiencing recovery during working hours: variation (including changes in location, tasks and tempo) companionship (including helpfulness, appreciation, social chat and laughter) and manageability (including completion, satisfaction, influence, control and reflection). CONCLUSIONS: Recovery during working hours is multifaceted. The categories identified in this study will be further elaborated and tested.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
employees, health, primary health care, Work
in
Work
volume
61
issue
1
pages
8 pages
publisher
IOS Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85054898587
  • pmid:30223416
ISSN
1051-9815
DOI
10.3233/WOR-182783
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
84bc8577-71b3-43d2-a124-cb558c4bdd67
date added to LUP
2018-11-06 12:41:49
date last changed
2024-01-30 01:10:52
@article{84bc8577-71b3-43d2-a124-cb558c4bdd67,
  abstract     = {{<p>Lack of recovery from everyday strains and demands is connected to increased levels of stress-related problems and development of ill-health. There is much research on how to handle and prevent fatigue and stress in leisure time, but research on working time is more scarce. A recent study found that employees' experience of recovery during working hours was related to high self-rated health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the concept of recovery during working hours among primary health care workers. METHODS: Eight focus groups with 50 staff members, men and women, from different professions were conducted in the primary health care sector in southern Sweden. The analysis was inspired by systematic text condensation, a strategy for qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Three main categories were identified as important factors for experiencing recovery during working hours: variation (including changes in location, tasks and tempo) companionship (including helpfulness, appreciation, social chat and laughter) and manageability (including completion, satisfaction, influence, control and reflection). CONCLUSIONS: Recovery during working hours is multifaceted. The categories identified in this study will be further elaborated and tested.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ejlertsson, Lina and Heijbel, Bodil and Troein, Margareta and Brorsson, Annika}},
  issn         = {{1051-9815}},
  keywords     = {{employees; health; primary health care; Work}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{149--156}},
  publisher    = {{IOS Press}},
  series       = {{Work}},
  title        = {{Variation, companionship and manageability important for recovery during working hours : A qualitative focus group study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/WOR-182783}},
  doi          = {{10.3233/WOR-182783}},
  volume       = {{61}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}