Effective strategies for job retention in hospitals: insights from the EU METEOR project's online toolbox.

BACKGROUND: The European healthcare sector is currently facing a critical workforce retention crisis, characterized by a significant shortage of qualified medical personnel across hospitals in European Union countries. Recent data indicate a high and increasing intention among physicians and nurses to leave their positions, due to factors such as burnout, lack of support, and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project Mental Health: Focus on Retention of Healthcare Workers (METEOR), funded by the European Commission, aimed to improve job retention in hospital settings across Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Poland. A key part of the project involved developing new technological innovations to support workforce retention, such as the METEOR toolbox. This paper aims to share insights from the co-creation of the METEOR toolbox and the solutions devised during this process.

METHODS: The METEOR toolbox was developed between 2021 and 2024 using the Double Diamond Method, a structured iterative approach, widely applied in healthcare innovations. Simultaneously, a mixed-methods approach was incorporated throughout the iterations, primarily by using techniques such as literature reviews, in-depth interviews, and expert consultations to recognize the expectations and needs of target stakeholders (physicians, nurses and policymakers).

RESULTS: The final version of the METEOR toolbox is available as an open-access resource at: https://meteor-toolbox.sum.edu.pl/ . It provides a structured, evidence-based approach that guides users through the process of assessing the scale of staff turnover, diagnosing its root causes-such as stress, burnout, or organizational culture-and selecting appropriate interventions. These interventions range from workload adjustments and mental health support to mentoring and career development strategies. The toolbox also includes a practical implementation roadmap, helping organizations move from analysis to action and continuously monitor outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: The METEOR toolbox represents an innovative public health resource, developed to help healthcare organizations understand and address workforce retention challenges, with a particular focus on mental health and well-being. Future efforts will focus on promoting the toolbox through professional networks, academic conferences, scientific and social media articles, and collaboration with healthcare organizations.