Development of a Web-Based Intervention Course to Promote staff wellbeing: Protocol for an Experimental Study Design (Preprint)

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Burnout and poor wellbeing are serious problems in workforce all over the world. Especially in academia, high pressure is evident. Psychological flexibility has been found to be a promising aspect to enhance workers wellbeing and work satisfaction. </sec> <sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> The purpose of this study was first to develop and describe our ACT-based course which was developed to enhance academic workers wellbeing and working life skills and secondly, to report the mixed-method study design to explore the effects of the course. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS</title> none </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS</title> The course was opened to the staff of University of Helsinki in fall 2023 as a voluntary course. The course has been advertised in fall 2023 and spring 2024 through different university channels. Since then, a total of 650 participants have enrolled the course and of those, 86 participants have finished the course and given a consent to use their data in research. For many, the course is still ongoing. The effect of this course will be measured with mixed-method data, including questionnaire data before, during and after the course. In addition, reflective journals will be analysed for the effects of the course and interviews will be conducted to willing participants. This research follows the ethical guidelines drawn up by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> We argue that an online course promoting both psychological flexibility skills as well as participants working life skills is a good way to support employer wellbeing. </sec> <sec> <title>CLINICALTRIAL</title> - </sec>