Opportunities of digitalization in promoting work well-being at a university hospital: an interview study of managers and professionals

Authors

• Heidi Hänninen Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu
• Mira Hammarén Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
• Outi Kanste Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu; Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8634-0628

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.131382

Keywords:

digital technology, well-being, health services, health personnel, hospitals, content analysis

Abstract

Digitalization endeavors to address healthcare challenges, including resource sufficiency and rising costs. Digitalization requires innovative and systematic changes within the organization, and attention particularly to promoting work well-being, so that potentially increasing factors of workload can be identified and prevented during the transition.

The purpose of this study was to describe the views of leaders and professionals on the possibilities of digitalization in promoting work well-being in a university hospital. The data was collected through semi-structured focus group and individual interviews from leaders (n=20) and professionals (n=22) from one university hospital remotely between June 2021 and May 2022. The data was analyzed using inductive content analysis.

According to results, the opportunities of digitalization in promoting work well-being at a university hospital were described by: increasing the meaningfulness of work, improving the efficiency of work, digital solutions and services that promote work well-being, promoting competence and creating an enabling work environment. Digital solutions can enhance work performance by making it smoother and enabling more individualized job descriptions.

Work well-being can be promoted through digital solutions that support and monitor recovery from work and well-being. Utilizing digitalization to promote work well-being requires ensuring competence, fostering a supportive work atmosphere and environment for digitalization, and change management.

Digitalization offers opportunities to promote work well-being by influencing the meaningfulness and efficiency of work, digital solutions and services that promote work well-being, and promoting of competence and the creation of an enabling work environment. It is important to consider the perspective of health promotion in the design and implementation of digital solutions. It is crucial to prioritize participatory development, with supervisors playing a key role in facilitating transformative change. By paying attention to work well-being in the digitizing healthcare, factors that contribute to the retention and attractiveness of the field can be increased.