The association of client information system implementation with the well-being of Finnish social welfare professionals : a cross-sectional study

Digitalization and implementations of information systems have transformed social work, impacting the well-being of social welfare professionals. Previous studies have emphasized that implementations may increase stress, particularly if professionals are not involved in the development work. We examined how different phases of client information system implementation are associated with and interact with participation in information system development and satisfaction with software providers’ development work, particularly in relation to stress related to information systems and psychological distress. The implementation phases were divided into 1) within past 6 months, 2) within 12 months, 3) forthcoming within the next 12 months and 4) no past or forthcoming implementations within 12 months. A total of 990 Finnish social welfare professionals responded to the online survey in 2020. The data were analysed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The analyses were adjusted for age, gender, working environment and time pressure. The results showed that social welfare professionals who recently experienced implementation had more stress related to information systems. Those professionals who were dissatisfied with software providers’ development work experienced more stress related to information systems and psychological distress. Participation in the system development during the recent implementation was associated with increased stress related to information systems. Recent implementation was associated with higher psychological distress among those who were dissatisfied with software providers’ development work. Organizations should support social welfare professionals’ well-being after recent implementations by ensuring adequate support, time, training, and resources for development work, and fostering smooth cooperation between professionals and software providers.