Authors (including presenting author) :
WONG MF(1), POON WYV(2)
Affiliation :
(1)KEC Critical Incident Psychological Services (CIPS) Centre, Kowloon East Cluster Quality and Safety Office, United Christian Hospital, (2)Corporate Clinical Psychology Services/ Oasis - Centre for Personal Growth & Crisis Intervention, Head Office
Introduction :
In the demanding healthcare landscape, frontline staff often face significant pressure and challenging interactions. While hospital-based staff typically work within larger teams and have access to immediate support, GOPC staff work in standalone clinics separate from hospital complexes, making their work environment unique and highlighting the need for tailored support to address their specific challenges. As such, a pilot program consisting of two group interventions—stress management and assertive communication—was designed and implemented in seven GOPCs across KEC between April 2024 and Feb 2025.
Objectives :
- To empower frontline staff with practical techniques for managing stress and communicating assertively, thereby improving their well-being and job performance - To evaluate the program’s effectiveness for potential wider implementation within the Hospital Authority
Methodology :
Participants included frontline staff from seven GOPCs across KEC. 77 staff attended the stress management groups and 43 attended the assertive communication groups. A total of twelve stress management groups and six assertive communication groups were delivered. The program employed a pre-post intervention design to evaluate the effectiveness of both interventions.
The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14) and the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS-30) were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the stress management groups and assertive communication groups respectively. The PSS-14 is a standardized and widely recognized instrument that measures the degree to which individuals appraise different situations in their lives as stressful, while the RAS-30 is a self-report measure that assesses an individual’s assertiveness in various interpersonal situations. Paired-samples t-tests were conducted to analyze pre- and post-intervention scores.
Besides, an anonymous evaluation form was utilized to gather participants’ feedback on the program. The qualitative data added depth to the findings, offering valuable insights into participants' experiences and perceptions of the program's benefits.
Result & Outcome :
Statistically significant improvements were observed in participants' stress level and assertive communication skills. Participants who joined the stress management groups showed a significant reduction in perceived stress (mean scores decreased from 24.84 to 22.14) as indicated by the PSS-14 scores (t(69) = 2.844, p < 0.005), suggesting the group’s effectiveness in equipping participants with strategies to manage and reduce their perceived stress levels. Similarly, participants reported a significant improvement in assertiveness skills (mean scores increased from 4.39 to 8.17) in the RAS-30 (t(40) = -2.46, p < 0.05), indicating that the groups successfully enhanced participants' ability to express themselves assertively in interpersonal interactions.
Additionally, 70 evaluation forms were collected from the stress management groups and 43 from the assertive communication groups. In the program evaluation, participants reported increased awareness of stress triggers, improved ability to manage emotions, and greater confidence in conveying information clearly and addressing patients’ concerns. They also expressed appreciation for the practical nature of the groups and the safe space for learning and sharing experiences.
