Pilot Projects

The Oregon Healthy Workforce Center supports external and internal research in the areas of Total Worker Health®. Proposals to the Pilot Program have aligned with OHWC's theme and goals as a NIOSH Center of Excellence. In addition to a strong research design with a significant applied focus, proposals have addressed strategic goals in a NIOSH National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) sector area.

2023-2024 Pilot Project Program

Our call for proposals to the 2023-2024 Pilot Project Program has closed. Stay tuned for information on awarded projects. 

Tilikum pedestrian and public transit crossing bridge in Portland, Oregon
  1. A natural experiment for the impact of schedules on sleep, health, and safety in firefighters (Nicole Bowles*)
     
  2. Community of Practice and Safety Support-Tailored for Pain Management (COMPASS-TPM; Ryan Olson*)
    Publication: 
    Olson, R., Hess, J. A., Turk, D., Marino, M., Greenspan, L., Alley, L., . . . Rice, S. P. M. (2023). COMMunity of Practice And Safety Support for Navigating Pain (COMPASS-NP): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial with home care workers. Trials, 24(1), 264. doi:10.1186/s13063-023-07149-8
     
  3.  Pilot-testing the feasibility of a Total Worker Health interpersonal burnout intervention (David Hurtado* & Abigail Lenhart#)
    Publication: 
    Hurtado DA, Greenspan SA, Valenzuela S, McGinnis W, Everson T, Lenhart A. Promise and perils of leader-employee check-ins in reducing emotional exhaustion in primary care clinics: quasi-experimental and qualitative evidence. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocp.2022.12.012

All pilot projects have transitioned to full-scale funded research projects in OHWC’s 2021-2026 cycle.

*Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, OHSU
#OHSU School of Medicine

  1. Feasibility of a Brief Mindfulness Intervention on Hospice Care Worker Safety and Well-being (Lorann Stallones & Morgan Valley, Colorado State University)
    Publication: 
     Valley, M. A., & Stallones, L. (2021). Impact of a Mindfulness Intervention on Hospice Care Worker Safety and Well-Being. OBM Integrative and Complementary Medicine06(03), 1–1. https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.icm.2103029
     
  2. Nursing Students' 1st Entrée into Clinical Rotations: Initial Behaviors Addressing Shift Work, Sleep, and Safe Practice (Patricia Butterfield, Washington State University)
    Publication
    Postma, J., Tuell, E., James, L., Graves, J., Butterfield, P. (2017) Nursing Students' Perceptions of the Transition to Shift Work: A Total Worker Health Perspective. Workplace Health & Safety, 65 (11), 533-538. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2165079917719713
     
  3. Total Worker Health among New Nurses: An Instrument Development Study (Janessa Graves, Washington State University)
     
  4. Be Active, Work Safe (Laurel Kincl & Simon Driver, Oregon State University)
    Publication: Nery-Hurwit, M., Kincl., L., Driver, S., Heller, B. (2017). Stakeholder evaluation of an online program to promote physical activity and workplace safety for individuals with disability. Evaluation and Program Planning, 63, 39-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2017.03.005
     
  5. Family-Supportive and Safety-Supportive Supervisor Behavior Training in Corrections Personnel (Charlotte Fritz, Portland State University & Leslie Hammer, Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences)