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Effects of a Randomized Intervention to Improve Workplace Social Capital in Community Health Centers in China

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  • Xiaojie Sun
  • Nan Zhang
  • Kun Liu
  • Wen Li
  • Tuula Oksanen
  • Lizheng Shi

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether workplace social capital improved after implementing a workplace social capital intervention in community health centers in China. Methods: This study was conducted in 20 community health centers of similar size in Jinan of China during 2012–2013. Using the stratified site randomization, 10 centers were randomized into the intervention group; one center was excluded due to leadership change in final analyses. The baseline survey including 447 staff (response rate: 93.1%) was conducted in 2012, and followed by a six-month workplace social capital intervention, including team building courses for directors of community health centers, voluntarily public services, group psychological consultation, and outdoor training. The follow-up survey in July 2013 was responded to by 390 staff members (response rate: 86.9%). Workplace social capital was assessed with the translated and culturally adapted scale, divided into vertical and horizontal dimensions. The facility-level intervention effects were based on all baseline (n = 427) and follow-up (n = 377) respondents, except for Weibei respondents. We conducted a bivariate Difference-in-Difference analysis to estimate the facility-level intervention effects. Results: No statistically significant intervention effects were observed at the center level; the intervention increased the facility-level workplace social capital, and its horizontal and vertical dimensions by 1.0 (p = 0.24), 0.4 (p = 0.46) and 0.8 (p = 0.16), respectively. Conclusions: The comprehensive intervention seemed to slightly improve workplace social capital in community health centers of urban China at the center level. High attrition rate limits any causal interpretation of the results. Further studies are warranted to test these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaojie Sun & Nan Zhang & Kun Liu & Wen Li & Tuula Oksanen & Lizheng Shi, 2014. "Effects of a Randomized Intervention to Improve Workplace Social Capital in Community Health Centers in China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(12), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0114924
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114924
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    2. Meng, Annette & Borg, Vilhelm & Clausen, Thomas, 2019. "Enhancing the social capital in industrial workplaces: Developing workplace interventions using intervention mapping," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 227-236.
    3. Jiro Takaki & Toshiyo Taniguchi & Yasuhito Fujii, 2016. "Confirmation of Maslow’s Hypothesis of Synergy: Developing an Acceptance of Selfishness at the Workplace Scale," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-11, April.
    4. Sarah L Brand & Jo Thompson Coon & Lora E Fleming & Lauren Carroll & Alison Bethel & Katrina Wyatt, 2017. "Whole-system approaches to improving the health and wellbeing of healthcare workers: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-26, December.

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