Registered NursesNCT07520058
Shortened Working Hours for Nurses in Elderly Care and Municipal Home Care - Work Environment, Work-life Balance & Well-being
An observational study of Registered Nurses, run by University of Gavle at 1 site in Sweden.
Trial summary
Elderly care and municipal home care have and are facing several challenges with an increasing number of elderly people and fewer people of working age. In addition, welfare staff also have more sick days on average than other areas. Stress, mental ill health and intention to leave work are common. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Registered Nurses
- What is being tested?
- Shortened working hours
- How many people
- 190 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSweden
- Study dates
- 25 Apr 2026to 30 Jun 2027
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Study population: Registered nurses from six municipalities, one of which will introduce shortened working hours for its nurses.
Who may be able to join
- Registered nurses working in elderly care or in municipal home care.
Who cannot join
- Registered nurses on long-term leave.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Charlotte Roos, PhD contact
Sweden1 site
University of Gävle
Gävle, 80176
Maria Engström, PhD Professor, +4626648215, maria.engstrom@hig.se
Maria Engström, PhD Professor
About this study
Official title: Shortened Working Hours for Registered Nurses in Elderly Care and Municipal Home Care - How is it Linked to Nurse-rated Work Environment, Work-life Balance and Well-being?
Elderly care and municipal home care have and are facing several challenges with an increasing number of elderly people and fewer people of working age. In addition, welfare staff also have more sick days on average than other areas. Stress, mental ill health and intention to leave work are common. Furthermore, there is a national and international shortage of staff and especially a shortage of specialist nurses, e.g., elderly care and primary care. Strengthening the positive aspects will be central and creating good conditions for staff and thus hopefully also better care and welfare. A sustainable working life where the staff thrive, experience learning, meaning, well-being, good structural conditions, work-life balance and want to stay in the long term.
In one of the municipalities in this research project, they will introduce shortened working hours for registered nurses. A shortened working hours (reduced full-time standard by 3.25 hours/week with maintained salary) during a one-year pilot project for nurses in elderly care and municipal home care. Current full-time standard 38.25 hours/week. The municipality has initiated, decided and will implement the changes and the researchers are asked to follow the project.
Read more
Nurses from the municipality implementing reduced working hours and nurses from municipalities without changed working hours will be invited to participate in the study. The nurses will answer a questionnaire before and after the changes (6 and 12 months after the first data collection).
The overall aim of the research is to investigate registered nurses' experiences of their work environment, health, well-being and intention to quit/remain, as well as the quality of care, nurse turnover and sick leave. To study the relationship between shortening working hours or not, nurses' assessments of the work environment, intention to quit/remain, health, well-being and quality of care.
The main research questions are:
- What are the relationships over time between working hours reduction or not, sociodemographic factors, nurse-rated work environment, intention to quit/remain, health, well-being and nurse-rated quality of care (follow-up after 12 months)?
- What changes occur over time in nurses' assessments of work environment, intention to quit/remain, health, well-being and quality of care, and are there any differences compared to a comparison group/municipalities?
Read the detailed description
The research project has a prospective design and all nurses (approximately 40) in the municipality where the working hours reduction is implemented will be asked to participate, as well as all nurses in five comparison municipalities (approximately 150).
Data analysis: For the correlation analyses, bivariate correlation analyses and regression analyses (univariate and multiple) or Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) will be used. GEE to take clustering into account. For the comparative tests, t-test or ANOVA/ANCOVA will be used or equivalent non-parametric tests if the data is not normally distributed.
To study relationships in a multiple linear regression analysis, 50+8*m (people) are required, where m is the number of variables included in the relationship analysis. In this case, investigators expect to use approximately 5-10 explanatory variables, one of which is working time reduction or not, i.e. approximately 90-130 participants. Investigators will invite approximately 190 nurses and expect that some nurses will decline or drop out over time.
- Conditions
- Registered Nurses
- Being tested
- Shortened working hours
- Keywords
- Shortened Working Hours, Elderly Care, Home Care, Work Life Balance
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Shortened working hoursOther
In one of the municipalities in this research project, they will introduce shortened working hours for registered nurses. A shortened working hours (reduced full-time standard by 3.25 hours/week with maintained salary) during a one-year pilot project for nurses in elderly care and municipal home care. Current full-time standard 38.25 hours/week. The municipality has initiated, decided and will implement the changes and the researchers are asked to follow the project.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses working in elderly care and/or municipal home care | Not described | |
| Registered nurses in elderly care and/or municipal home care with shortened working hours | In one of the municipalities in this research project, they will introduce shortened working hours for registered nurses. A shortened working hours (reduced full-time standard by 3.25 hours/week with maintained salary) during a one-year pilot project for nurses in elderly care and municipal home care. Current full-time standard 38.25 hours/week. The municipality has initiated, decided and will implement the changes and the researchers are asked to follow the project. Receives: Other: Shortened working hours |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Well-being - Work-life balance - dimension "work interference with personal life"
A scale will be used for nurses' self-rated work-life balance - "the 17-item work/non-work interference and enhancement scale", response options 5-grade 1) not at all to 5) almost always. Four dimensions: work interference with personal life, personal life interference with work, work enhancement of personal-life, and personal life enhancement of work. For this outcome, it is the dimension "work interference with personal life" and higher scores represent imbalance/an undesirable outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and then 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Well-being - Work-life balance - dimension "work enhancement of personal life"
A scale will be used for nurses' self-rated work-life balance - "the 17-item work/nonwork interference and enhancement scale", response options 5-grade 1) not at all to 5) almost always. Four dimensions: work interference with personal life, personal life interference with work, work enhancement of personal life, and personal life enhancement of work. For this outcome, it is the dimension "work enhancement of personal life" and higher scores represent balance/a desirable outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Secondary outcomes (24)
Well-being - Work-life balance - dimension "personal life enhancement of work"
A scale will be used for nurses' self-rated work-life balance - "the 17-item work/nonwork interference and enhancement scale", response options 5-grade 1) not at all to 5) almost always. Four dimensions: work interference with personal life, personal life interference with work, work enhancement of personal life, and personal life enhancement of work. For this outcome, it is the dimension "personal life enhancement of work" and higher scores represent balance/a desirable outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Well-being - Recovery experience
The Recovery Experience Questionnaire will be used , response options 5-grade Likert-scale, item scores are averaged and higher scores represent a better recovery experience.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Thriving
The 10-item Thriving scale will be used to measure thriving, 5-point response alternatives. For total score the mean is calculated and a higher score represent higher thriving.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Intention to quite/leave the job
One question on intention to leave from the Satisfaction with work questionnaires, 'Have you recently seriously considered quitting your job on the unit because you don't enjoy it?', with response alternatives 1) No, 2) Yes, but I have not done anything and 3) Yes, and I have taken action.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Intention to remain at this workplace
1 study specific question "Is it your intention to stay at this workplace?" Response options (…) yes (…) no
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Job satisfaction
The 4-item Brief index of affective job satisfaction will be used, response options 1 = Strongly disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Agree, 5 = Strongly agree. Items are averaged to get the total score and higher scores represent higher job satisfaction
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Well-being - Life satisfaction
1 item from the Life satisfaction questionnaire will be used, 7-grade response alternatives (1. Very low to 7. Very high) and higher scores representing better life satisfaction.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Health - Stress symptoms
Stress symptoms will be measured using the Psychosomatic health aspects scale, one factor 10 items. Response alternatives are 5-grade [1) very often, 2) Quite often 3) Sometimes 4) Seldom 5) Never]. Scores from the ten items are averaged for factor score, and higher scores represent more stress symptoms.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-) and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). After 6 months, nurses from the municipality with reduced working hours will answer 1 question about tiredness from the stress scale.
Health - Sleep quality
1 question about sleep quality from the Satisfaction with work questionnaires: "Overall, how do you rate your sleep quality?" 5-grade response alternatives from 1) Very bad to 5) Very god
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Health - Depression symptoms
The Patient health questionnaire-2 will be used that gives a score for depression 0-6, higher score more depressive symptoms, each item rated from 0 "not at all" to 3 "nearly every day".
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Health - Anxiety symptoms
The Generalized anxiety disorder scale -2 will be used that gives a score for anxiety 0-6, higher score more anxiety symptoms, each item rated from 0 "not at all" to 3 "nearly every day".
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Health - Burnout
The factor burnout from the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire III will be used, four items that are averaged, response alternatives on a 5-point scale from 1. All the time to 5. Not at all. Higher scores representing a better outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Work situation
1 item from the Life satisfaction questionnaire will be used, 7-grade response alternatives from 1. Very unhappy to 7. Very happy and higher scores representing a better work situation "How do you like your work situation?"
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Work environment - Structural conditions/empowerment
To measure structural conditions/empowerment the 19-item Condition of work effectiveness scale-II will be used. The total score for the scale range from 6 to 30, higher scores representing better structural conditions. Response alternatives for each item are 5-grade (1. None to 5. A lot).
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Quantitative demands
The factor quantitative demands from the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire III will be used, three items that are averaged, response alternatives on a 5-point scale from 1. Always to 5. Never/Almost never. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Emotional demands
The factor emotional demands from the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire III will be used, three items that are averaged with response alternatives on a 5-point scale from 1. Always to 5. Never/Almost never. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Work pace
The factor work pace from the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire III will be used, two items that are averaged, response alternatives on a 5-point scale from 1. Always to 5. Never/Almost never. Higher scores mean a better outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Social support from colleagues
The factor social support from colleagues from the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire III will be used, two items that are averaged, response alternatives on a 5-point scale from 1. Always to 5. Never/Almost never. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Work environment - Social community at work
The factor social community at work from the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire III will be used, three items that are averaged, response alternatives on a 5-point scale from 1. Always to 5. Never/Almost never. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-) and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Commitment to the organization
The factor commitment to the organization from the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire III will be used, three items that are averaged, response alternatives on a 5-point scale. Higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Quality of care - Nurse satisfaction with given care
The Nurse Satisfaction with Given Care Scale will be used. Response alternatives are 7-grade Likert scale (1. Not at all to 7. To a very high extent). For total score, the item scores are averaged, with higher scores representing greater satisfaction.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Stress, work-life balance and recovery
An index of three study specific items with 7-grade response options from 1) not true at all to 7) completely true, higher scores representing less stress, better balance and recovery
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Quality of care - Productivity and efficient work
An index of 2 study-specific items with 7-grade response options from 1) not true at all to 7) completely true, higher scores better productivity
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Health - sick days
In the survey, a question about the number of sick days - open-ended response option where the number of sick days is stated.
Measured: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Apr 2026
- Study start25 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Registered NursesStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 190 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Gavle
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Maria Engström, University of Gavle
- Investigators
- Maria Engström, PhD Professor, Principal investigator, University of Gävle
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07520058
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- HIG-FORSK 2026/81
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 28 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: The data set with individual data are not available to share due to general data protection regulations (GDPR), and in line with the ethics application.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Shortened Working Hours for Registered Nurses in Elderly Care and Municipal Home Care - How is it Linked to Nurse-rated Work Environment, Work-life Balance and Well-being?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07520058
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- HIG-FORSK 2026/81
- Conditions
- Registered Nurses
- Keywords
- Shortened Working Hours, Elderly Care, Home Care, Work Life Balance
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 190 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of GavleUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 25 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Elderly care and municipal home care have and are facing several challenges with an increasing number of elderly people and fewer people of working age. In addition, welfare staff also have more sick days on average than other areas. Stress, mental ill health and intention to leave work are common. Furthermore, there is a national and international shortage of staff and especially a shortage of specialist nurses, e.g., elderly care and primary care. Strengthening the positive aspects will be central and creating good conditions for staff and thus hopefully also better care and welfare. A sustainable working life where the staff thrive, experience learning, meaning, well-being, good structural conditions, work-life balance and want to stay in the long term.
In one of the municipalities in this research project, they will introduce shortened working hours for registered nurses. A shortened working hours (reduced full-time standard by 3.25 hours/week with maintained salary) during a one-year pilot project for nurses in elderly care and municipal home care. Current full-time standard 38.25 hours/week. The municipality has initiated, decided and will implement the changes and the researchers are asked to follow the project.
Nurses from the municipality implementing reduced working hours and nurses from municipalities without changed working hours will be invited to participate in the study. The nurses will answer a questionnaire before and after the changes (6 and 12 months after the first data collection).
The overall aim of the research is to investigate registered nurses' experiences of their work environment, health, well-being and intention to quit/remain, as well as the quality of care, nurse turnover and sick leave. To study the relationship between shortening working hours or not, nurses' assessments of the work environment, intention to quit/remain, health, well-being and quality of care.
The main research questions are:
- What are the relationships over time between working hours reduction or not, sociodemographic factors, nurse-rated work environment, intention to quit/remain, health, well-being and nurse-rated quality of care (follow-up after 12 months)?
- What changes occur over time in nurses' assessments of work environment, intention to quit/remain, health, well-being and quality of care, and are there any differences compared to a comparison group/municipalities?
Detailed description
The research project has a prospective design and all nurses (approximately 40) in the municipality where the working hours reduction is implemented will be asked to participate, as well as all nurses in five comparison municipalities (approximately 150).
Data analysis: For the correlation analyses, bivariate correlation analyses and regression analyses (univariate and multiple) or Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) will be used. GEE to take clustering into account. For the comparative tests, t-test or ANOVA/ANCOVA will be used or equivalent non-parametric tests if the data is not normally distributed.
To study relationships in a multiple linear regression analysis, 50+8*m (people) are required, where m is the number of variables included in the relationship analysis. In this case, investigators expect to use approximately 5-10 explanatory variables, one of which is working time reduction or not, i.e. approximately 90-130 participants. Investigators will invite approximately 190 nurses and expect that some nurses will decline or drop out over time.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses working in elderly care and/or municipal home care | – | – |
| Registered nurses in elderly care and/or municipal home care with shortened working hours | – | Other: Shortened working hoursIn one of the municipalities in this research project, they will introduce shortened working hours for registered nurses. A shortened working hours (reduced full-time standard by 3.25 hours/week with maintained salary) during a one-year pilot project for nurses in elderly care and municipal home care. Current full-time standard 38.25 hours/week. The municipality has initiated, decided and will implement the changes and the researchers are asked to follow the project. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Registered nurses from six municipalities, one of which will introduce shortened working hours for its nurses.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Registered nurses working in elderly care or in municipal home care.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Registered nurses on long-term leave.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Shortened working hoursIn one of the municipalities in this research project, they will introduce shortened working hours for registered nurses. A shortened working hours (reduced full-time standard by 3.25 hours/week with maintained salary) during a one-year pilot project for nurses in elderly care and municipal home care. Current full-time standard 38.25 hours/week. The municipality has initiated, decided and will implement the changes and the researchers are asked to follow the project. | Other | Registered nurses in elderly care and/or municipal home care with shortened working hours |
Primary outcome
Well-being - Work-life balance - dimension "work interference with personal life"
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and then 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
A scale will be used for nurses' self-rated work-life balance - "the 17-item work/non-work interference and enhancement scale", response options 5-grade 1) not at all to 5) almost always. Four dimensions: work interference with personal life, personal life interference with work, work enhancement of personal-life, and personal life enhancement of work. For this outcome, it is the dimension "work interference with personal life" and higher scores represent imbalance/an undesirable outcome.
Well-being - Work-life balance - dimension "work enhancement of personal life"
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
A scale will be used for nurses' self-rated work-life balance - "the 17-item work/nonwork interference and enhancement scale", response options 5-grade 1) not at all to 5) almost always. Four dimensions: work interference with personal life, personal life interference with work, work enhancement of personal life, and personal life enhancement of work. For this outcome, it is the dimension "work enhancement of personal life" and higher scores represent balance/a desirable outcome.
24 secondary outcomes
Well-being - Work-life balance - dimension "personal life enhancement of work"
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Well-being - Recovery experience
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Thriving
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Intention to quite/leave the job
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Intention to remain at this workplace
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Job satisfaction
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Well-being - Life satisfaction
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Health - Stress symptoms
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-) and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). After 6 months, nurses from the municipality with reduced working hours will answer 1 question about tiredness from the stress scale.
Health - Sleep quality
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Health - Depression symptoms
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Health - Anxiety symptoms
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Health - Burnout
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Work situation
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Work environment - Structural conditions/empowerment
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Quantitative demands
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Emotional demands
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Work pace
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Social support from colleagues
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Work environment - Social community at work
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-) and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Work environment - Commitment to the organization
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Quality of care - Nurse satisfaction with given care
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection).
Well-being - Stress, work-life balance and recovery
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Quality of care - Productivity and efficient work
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Health - sick days
Time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and thereafter 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 28 Apr 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. The data set with individual data are not available to share due to general data protection regulations (GDPR), and in line with the ethics application.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Charlotte Roos, PhD contact
Maria Engström, PhD Professor principal investigator
University of Gävle
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Registered Nurses, run by University of Gavle at 1 site in Sweden.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 28 Apr 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Maria Engström, Professor, PhD (+4626648215, maria.engstrom@hig.se), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Well-being - Work-life balance - dimension "work interference with personal life" (time frame: Data collection before the changes (pre-), and then 6 and 12 months after the first data collection (post data collection). For the 6-months data collection only nurses in the group with shortened working hours, at 12 months all nurses.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 28 Apr 2026.