Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Working in healthcare is particularly stressful, which is reflected in the fact that 61% of European healthcare professionals experience work-related stress. In comparison with other categories of workers, healthcare professionals are more likely to indicate that workload/working hours (77%), unacceptable behavior such as mobbing and coercion (64%), and lack of support from colleagues or superiors to fulfill their role (61%) are causes of work-related stress.
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of MBSR training on both positive and negative symptom-focused mental health outcomes among a small group of healthcare professionals (N = 30) at a specialized hospital
Who can participate?
Healthcare professionals working in the trial participating centre
What does the study involve?
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training: eight 2.5-hour weekly sessions and one 7-hour day of silence
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
MBSR can benefit the mental health of different groups of healthcare professionals in various ways (e.g., decreasing stress levels, burnout and anxiety, increasing personal well-being and self-compassion, enhancing presence when relating to others, compassion, and a sense of shared humanity).
There is little evidence about the potential harmful effects of MBSR. But caution is needed for example with (sexual) trauma or psychotic symptoms!
Where is the study run from?
Occupation & Health Research Group, HAN University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2011 to November 2011
Who is funding the study?
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO; Dutch Organization for Scientific Research)
Who is the main contact?
Math Janssen
math.janssen@han.nl
Dr Yvonne Heerkens
yvonne.heerkens@han.nl
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Mr Math Janssen
ORCID ID
Contact details
6503 GL
Nijmegen
Box 6960
Netherlands
+31 (0)6 578 85 136
math.janssen@han.nl
Type
Scientific
Additional contact
Dr Yvonne Heerkens
ORCID ID
Contact details
6503 GL
Nijmegen
Box 6960
Netherlands
+31 (0)6 121 83 621
yvonne.heerkens@han.nl
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
023.007.051
Study information
Scientific title
An empirical study on short-term effects of mindfulness training on mental health and work-related perceptions of healthcare professionals in a specialized hospital: a pilot study
Acronym
Study hypothesis
What are short-term effects of mindfulness training on the mental health and work-related perceptions of healthcare professionals in a specialized hospital?
Ethics approval
Approved 09/12/2015, The Ethical Advisory Committee for Applied research of the HAN University of Applied Sciences (Campus Nijmegen, Kapittelweg 33, 6525 EN Nijmegen, The Netherlands; +31 (0)6 55 43 42 84; commissiemensgebondenonderzoek@radboudumc.nl), ref: ACPO 07.12/15
Study design
Non-randomized pre-post intervention study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Mental health
Intervention
Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training: eight 2.5-hour weekly sessions and one 7-hour day of silence
The MBSR training took place in the hospital.
Two experienced mindfulness trainers delivered the MBSR program. Both trainers meet the advanced criteria of the Center for Mindfulness of the University of Massachusetts Medical School (https://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/) and maintain regular personal meditation practices.
The MBSR training used is primarily based on the MBSR program developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn. The program consists of eight 2.5-hour weekly group sessions and one 7-hour day of silence. A very important part of the training is the homework: 45 minutes of daily practice at home, six days per week, with the support of guided CDs and a customized workbook. MBSR is structured and includes:
- guided instruction in mindfulness meditation practices (body scan, sitting meditation)
- simple movement exercises
- a short group discussion
- informal meditation exercises: paying full attention to daily activities (e.g., brushing one’s teeth, eating)
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Mindfulness skills measured using the Dutch version of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-NL) at one week prior to the start of the intervention and immediately after the eight-week MBSR intervention period
Secondary outcome measures
Measured one week prior to the start of the intervention and immediately after the eight-week MBSR intervention period:
1. Burnout is measured by the Dutch version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS), the Utrechtse BurnOut Schaal-Algemeen (UBOS-A; Utrecht Burnout Scale - General)
2. Stress is assessed with the 14-item stress scale of the Dutch 42-item Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS)
3. Quality of sleep is measured using the Dutch sleep quality subscale (14 items) of the Questionnaire Perception and Assessment of Labor (VBBA: Vragenlijst Beleving en Beoordeling van de Arbeid)
4. Positive and negative emotions at work are assessed by the 12-item Dutch version of the Job-related Affective Well-being Scale (JAWS)
5. Self-efficacy is assessed using the Dutch General Self-Efficacy Scale, a translated 10-item version of the original German instrument
6. Work engagement is measured using the nine-item Dutch version of the shortened Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES), the UBES-9
7. Worrying is measured using the Dutch four-item VBBA worrying subscale
Overall trial start date
18/08/2011
Overall trial end date
25/04/2012
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Healthcare professional in this specialized hospital
2. Having worked there for at least two years, three days per week
Participant type
Health professional
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
30
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Attended mindfulness training over the past two years
2. Followed a stress reduction course, such as relaxation training or cognitive behavioral therapy, over the past two years
Recruitment start date
15/09/2011
Recruitment end date
20/11/2011
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Netherlands
Trial participating centre
Occupation & Health Research Group, HAN University of Applied Sciences
6503 GL Nijmegen
Nijmegen
BOX 6960
Netherlands
Sponsor information
Organisation
Occupation & Health Research Group, HAN University of Applied Sciences
Sponsor details
6503 GL
Nijmegen
Box 6960
Netherlands
+31 (0)24 353 03 72 | +31(0)6 15 33 07 49
Angelina.vanZadelhoff@han.nl
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
http://www.han.nl/onderzoek/kennismaken/revalidatie-arbeid-sport/lectoraat/arbeid-en-gezondheid/
Funders
Funder type
Not defined
Funder name
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Alternative name(s)
Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, Dutch National Scientific Foundation, Dutch National Science Foundation, NWO
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
National government
Location
Netherlands
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement:
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Data cannot be shared publicly because the population size is less than 100, the data (for example by age or gender) are possibly traceable to concrete individuals, and the respondents gave no formal consent to share the data publicly.
Data are available from the Occupation & Health Research Group, HAN University of Applied Sciences Nijmegen (contact via Math Janssen and Yvonne Heerkens) for researchers who meet the criteria for access to confidential data.
The dataset consists of SPSS data file, SPSS syntax, codebook and questionnaire in Dutch.
Intention to publish date
01/06/2020
Participant level data
Available on request
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list