The Changing the Workplace study has five objectives. They are:

1. To determine prevalence of mental health problems among healthcare workers in British Columbia (BC)
2. To determine the level and nature of exposure to work stress by BC healthcare workers and the conditions (e.g. work-home balance, effort/reward, safety culture) that are positively and negatively impacting their mental health and retention
3. To identify current preventative programs and services available within the health authorities that address risk factors, as well as facilitators and barriers to program implementation
4. To identify, pilot, and evaluate interventions in each health authority that address high priority mental health risk factors at the unit and organizational level as evidenced by the qualitative and questionnaire data from participants
5. To investigate factors that impact the implementation and sustainability of healthy workplace initiatives.

The theoretical model of healthy workplaces used in this study was developed by Robyn Gershon and is an adaptation of a behavioral diagnostic model developed by DeJoy ¹ and the PRECEDE model by Green ². “The PRECEDE model emphasizes the investigation of multiple causations to health behavior to assure appropriate interventions. The Behavioral Diagnostic Model is based on the PRECEDE model and integrates organizational and worker centered determinants of work stress.” ³ We built on this model and added the importance of determining at the outset the facilitators and barriers to implementing change.

1. Dejoy, D. (1986). A behavioral-diagnostic model for self-protective behavior in the workplace. Prof Saf. 26-30.
2. Green, L.W., Kreuter, M.W., Deeds, S.G., et al. (1980). Health education planning: a diagnostic approach. Palo Alto, CA, Mayfield.
3. Gershon, Robyn (2003). Personal Communication