MARS - Measures Against Work-Related Stress
Author(s): M.V. Willert, A.M. Thulstrup, and J.P. Bonde Country: Denmark
Is the intervention sector specific?	No
Is the intervention usable with different enterprise sizes?	Yes
Is the intervention equally applicable to both genders?	Yes
Is the intervention based on theory?	Yes
Can the intervention approach be adapted/ tailored?	Yes
Does the intervention promote CSR and how?	The intervention does not explicitly promote responsible business practices, although it does promote employee wellbeing.
Does the intervention promote social dialogue and how?	Mars does not promote social dialogue, as it is oriented at the individual, and does not directly involve the workplace.
Overview (including risk assessment and law – legal requirements etc.): The MARS research project investigates the effect of a group-based stress management intervention for participants with elevated symptoms of work-related stress (symptoms of sustained arousal and reactivity of symptoms to demands at work). The MARS intervention is underpinned by a bio-psychosocial framework1 and has been built on the foundations of cognitive behaviour therapy.
Implementation: A group therapy format is used to train individuals in stress management techniques. Integral to the intervention format is the encouragement of individuals to implementation the techniques, experiences and skills gained in the group sessions at the workplace. This is partially achieved by assigning homework following each group session (i.e. assignments on how to try out newly acquired skills at the workplace between group sessions). Treatment lasts approximately 3 months.
Practical applications: The MARS intervention is designed to allow for easy adaptation and implementation in a variety of organisational and cultural settings. The intervention is built on the foundations of cognitive behaviour therapy, which has been shown to be adaptable to different cultural settings, whilst still retaining its treatment potential. The successful implementation of this programme requires a trained health professional.
Innovative aspects: The MARS intervention has adapted the proven effective methods and techniques from cognitive behavioural therapy used to treat anxiety and depression to address work-related stress and its consequences of individual’s wellbeing.
Evaluation (including process issues, outcomes and sustainability): In 2007-2008, 12 groups participated in the MARS intervention. In order to assess the effectiveness of the intervention, those individuals participating in the MARS intervention were compared to participants on a waiting-listing for treatment (non-intervention group). Data was collected at several time points (prior to intervention, directly following, three months and one year following the treatment), using a variety of sources of data: 1) questionnaires on psycho-social wellbeing, health and work conditions, 2) a limited neuropsychological test battery, 3) bio-markers of stress (blood samples), 4) physiological data as well as 5) self-reported and register data on absenteeism.
Benefits (including cost effectiveness): Several benefits of the intervention have been observed: The preliminary analysis of the questionnaire data demonstrates a significant treatment effects on several major areas of individuals wellbeing. Three months after termination of treatment the gains achieved during treatment are observed to be maintained. Preliminary analysis of the self-reported data on absenteeism point at a possible reduction in long-term sick leave during the intervention. Feedback received from the participants, both in-session and as rated by questionnaires, reflects a high degree of satisfaction and perceived benefit of the intervention. Additionally the practitioners undertaking the intervention perceive the intervention format as both feasible and functional. As the evaluation of the intervention is currently ongoing, the one year follow-up questionnaires will be sent out in 2008-2009, which will enable an assessment of the long-term effects and the sustainability of the intervention. In addition, to date the register data has yet to be retrieved and the collected bio-physiological data analysed. A cost-benefit analysis is planned. This analysis will examine the average cost of the intervention per participant in relation to the benefits of reduced absenteeism costs and prevented loss in productivity.
References: Will be published in 2009 and onwards.
Comments: After the research project examining the effectiveness of the MARS intervention has ended, the intervention has been implemented as part of the regular available treatment options for work-related stress at the Department of Occupational Health, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark. 1The bio-psychosocial model is an approach that postulates that biological, psychological (which entails thoughts, emotions, and behaviors), and social factors all play a significant role in human functioning in the context of disease or illness.