Heart Core - stress and sleep in caregivers

The healthcare sector is under immense pressure. Due to a growing shortage of personnel and increasing responsibilities, absenteeism is high and staff turnover continues to rise. As a result, the number of hands at the bedside is decreasing rather than increasing. The rising workload often leads to stress among healthcare professionals and students, which can be accompanied by sleep problems, reduced well-being, and lower engagement at work. Despite current efforts to improve retention and reintegration of healthcare workers, there is still insufficient focus on their mental capital.

This project therefore aims to conduct a large-scale (subjective and objective) exploration of stress and sleep among bedside healthcare professionals working in shifts. Based on these findings, the research will focus on developing and implementing an accessible and low-threshold programme to strengthen mental health—Heart Core—for healthcare professionals. The effects of the Heart Core programme will be mapped and evaluated.

Subsequently, existing good practices in retention and reintegration policies in healthcare and other sectors will be reviewed through a summarising literature study. This will form the basis for cross-pollination between this research and healthcare employers. In the final phase, the project will focus on valorisation and knowledge transfer to (future) healthcare professionals, healthcare employers, policymakers, and other employers or organisations outside the healthcare sector.