Occupational well-being of health care teachers – action research at Tallinn Health Care College

Abstract

Health care education is facing common challenges of the education sector, such as ageing staff, time pressures, digitalization, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is part of a larger participatory international action research titled Developing Occupational Well-Being of Health Care Teachers in Estonia, 2021–2023. The objective of the study is to describe and evaluate health care teachers’ occupational well-being at the pretest phase of the action research project, as well as to describe the occupational well-being development plan and related development activities at Tallinn Health Care College. The data were collected from health care teachers by an electronical survey (n = 46, response rate 46%). The quantitative data were analysed by statistical methods and qualitative data by deductive-inductive analysis. In general, the teachers were satisfied with their physical environment. Many considered their work important, and they were also satisfied with working time arrangements. Based on the pretest results, an occupational well-being development plan was created. Improving communication and ergonomics were established as the main objectives in the development strategy. These improvement activities will be part of the college’s new development plan. Various activities have been planned to promote occupational well-being. These activities have already begun as seminars on communication, bullying, and ergonomics in the workplace and home office. The information can be utilized to develop long-term occupational well-being at Tallinn Health Care College. The results and good practices can enhance decision-making and education at local, regional, national, and international levels.

Keywords

• occupational well-being
• teacher
• health care
• education
• action research