Harnessing modern technology to broaden the reach of Psychologists in the workplace

Background: Providing workplace health support that meets the needs of a diverse workforce can be challenging. In the workplace, Psychologists need to be able to efficiently deliver services that will support employees who are operating in geographically dispersed areas and working alternating shift schedules. Modern technology provides an opportunity for Psychologists to broaden their potential reach by providing assistance at a location and time that is accessible for employees. The psychological principles of behaviour change are able to be applied and delivered through semi-tailored mobile phone messages to efficiently support employees at varying stages of readiness. Aims/objectives: This paper will explain how to apply psychological models to assess the readiness of individual employees for healthy behavioural change, how to structure a group level intervention to efficiently deliver semi-tailored health support through mobile phone technology; and how to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Implications: The method discussed was designed to maximise the reach of a support services that could be provided simultaneously to a large workforce within a restricted budget. Although feedback from employees who have received assistance through mobile phone messages indicates that they have felt personally supported and motivated for health behaviour change, it is recommended that high risk employees consider seeking more intensive Psychological support. Conclusion: Psychologists can harness modern technology to maximise the support they can offer in the workplace. Mobile phones provide Psychologists with a tool to efficiently and consistently deliver health communication that is grounded in behavioural change techniques and matched to the readiness of individual employees.