Evaluation of an e-learning to improve healthcare professionals’ conflict resolution skills: A stepped-wedge randomized controlled intervention study

Introduction As workloads increase and staffing shortages persist, conflicts among healthcare professionals are more likely. We developed an e-learning to improve conflict resolution skills.Methods We conducted a two-center stepped-wedge randomized controlled study across 12 departments. Departments were allocated to one of two training periods, with assessments at baseline, T1, and T2. Primary outcome was interpersonal communication competence; resilience and open organizational culture were secondary outcomes. Participants completing all questionnaires and ≥80% of the e-learning were included in the main analyses.Results Of 1,308 invited healthcare professionals, 188 provided informed consent and completed all questionnaires; 115 completed ≥80% of the e-learning. The intervention effect was assessed using the time-by-group interaction. No significant interactions were observed for interpersonal communication competence, resilience, or open organizational culture, indicating no detectable intervention effect. For example, no interaction effect was found for self-disclosure (F(2,226) = 0.365, p = 0.694). Although some significant time effects were observed, these were not accompanied by between-group differences. Mixed-effects analyses yielded similar results.Conclusion The e-learning had no detectable effect on participants’ interpersonal communication competencies, resilience, or perceptions of open organizational culture. Results should be interpreted cautiously given substantial attrition, limited power, and measurement reliability concerns. However, the study provides valuable insights.