What is the study about?

The FACTS study team are working with clinical trial staff and other academics to develop guidance for Clinical Trials Units (CTUs) in order to help them improve employee workplace wellbeing (flourishing). Flourishing encompasses interpersonal factors, including the role of workplace social interactions and intrapersonal factors, encompassing the interplay of the energy and value obtained from the working environment. Although the role of flourishing in clinical trial staff has yet to be directly investigated, there is evidence to suggest these factors are related to job satisfaction and staff turnover in clinical trial staff as well as trial efficiency. Flourishing could ensure staff continuity and subsequently, consistency in protocol delivery, site management, participant recruitment etc.

The study aim is to understand the role of flourishing and job satisfaction in clinical trial unit (CTU) staff and develop guidance on how to support staff to flourish. Understanding the role of staff flourishing in CTUs will enable the development and implementation of workplace wellbeing models that support staff to flourish; promoting job satisfaction and equipping staff with the personal resources required to work efficiently in their conduct of high-quality clinical research.

Who can take part in the study?

CTU staff who meet the following criteria:

• currently employed by a UKCRC-registered CTU
• have been in post at their current CTU for at least three months
• have availability during the specified data collection period

What are we trying to find out?

The study comprises three work packages:

1. Work Package 1 (WP1) – Online survey

The objectives of WP1 are to:

• Identify the current levels of flourishing and job satisfaction in CTU staff.
• Assess the relationship between interpersonal and intrapersonal flourishing and job satisfaction.
• Identify awareness of and satisfaction with wellbeing policies.
• Assess how job demands and organisational resources relate to flourishing.
• Identify the pathways that lead to high levels of flourishing at work. 

2. Work Package 2 (WP2) - Online Focus Groups

The objectives of WP2 are to:

• Collate and assess current workplace wellbeing models/policies and their provision to support staff flourishing.

(Via the focus group discussions) identify opportunities for developing new wellbeing models and any barriers and facilitators to implementation.   

3.Work Package 3 (WP3) - Guidance Development

The objective of WP3 is to develop the FACTS guidance based on data from WP1, WP2, the WP3 survey and consensus meeting and relevant literature.

Funder

National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) - Efficient Studies Funding (ESF)

Useful links