Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Occupational (work) pressure is recognized as a major source of stress for adults. Long-term stress can contribute to adverse health habits and is a known risk factor in many disease states, increases in absenteeism and a reduction in productivity in the workplace. Because of the prevalence and cost of this problem, an intervention designed to help the stress of staff, which will ultimately lead to the development of emotional well-being, could be beneficial to both employees and employers. Traditionally delivered Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs, which teach core mindfulness concepts, have been well researched with many beneficial healing effects. A potential deterrent to the utilization of a traditionally delivered MBSR program in a workplace setting is the expected participant time commitment. Additional obstacles are a stigma on stress and the absence of a clear link between MBSR content and the workplace. To address these needs, we have created Mindfulness-Based Mental Agility.
The objective of this study is to determine whether Mindfulness-Based Mental Agility training, created for the workplace, is efficacious in decreasing stress of employee while enhancing emotional intelligence, work engagement, resiliency, well-being and mindfulness.
Who can participate?
Participants will be recruited from the WHO EURO and UN City personnel.
What does the study involve?
All participants will complete module 1 of the training (6 weeks). If they wish to continue, they will also complete module 2 (4 weeks).
The intervention is standardized and consists of training built on 2 modules which are delivered online for 1 - 2 hours each week. In order to measure the impact of the full training, follow-up measures for the intervention will be obtained 1 and 6 months after Module 2. In order to measure the impact of Module 1 alone, follow-up measures will be obtained 1 and 6 months after Module 1 if participants don’t register for Module 2 of the training.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants will learn new skills and have the benefits related to the mindfulness-based practice. In addition, participants will receive a personal summary of the evaluations completed during the questionnaires.
Their participation is likely to help us find the impact of the training. Based on these results, the MBMA will be implemented at a larger scale, be offered to a larger population of employees, and integrated into a long-term strategy of Staff Development and Learning.
The researchers do not anticipate any risks from taking part.
Where is the study run from?
World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe (Denmark)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2020 to December 2021
Who is funding the study?
World Health Organization (Switzerland)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Pierre-Olivier Dondoglio
dondogliopi@who.int
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Pierre-Olivier Dondoglio
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7198-4882
Contact details
World Health Organization
Regional Office for Europe
UN City
Marmorvej 51
Copenhagen
2100
Denmark
+ 45 40 22 14 05
dondogliopi@who.int
Type
Public
Additional contact
Dr Pierre-Olivier Dondoglio
ORCID ID
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7198-4882
Contact details
World Health Organization
Regional Office for Europe
UN City
Marmorvej 51
Copenhagen
2100
Denmark
+ 45 40 22 14 05
dondogliopi@who.int
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
3462
Study information
Scientific title
Mindfulness-based mental agility: impact of a virtual face to face workplace intervention
Acronym
MBMA
Study hypothesis
The post-intervention evaluations will show a significant decrease in perceived stress as well as increased mindfulness, resiliency, wellbeing, emotional intelligence and work engagement.
Ethics approval
Approved 02/11/2020, World Health Organization Ethic Review Committee (Avenue Appia 20, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland; +41 22 791 1479; guraiibm@who.int), ref: 3462
Study design
Interventional cohort study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Non randomised study
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
No participant information sheet available
Condition
Emotional intelligence, resiliency, work engagement, perceived stress, mindfulness, wellbeing.
Intervention
The intervention consists of a mindfulness-based approach delivered via live online meetings. This program is significantly modified from traditional Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction to create a clear link between mindfulness and the 4 domains of Emotional Intelligence. Module 1 is composed of 1 live online training per week for 6 weeks for a total of 8 hours. Module 2 is composed of 1 live online training per week for 4 weeks for a total of 8 hours. The teacher is an MD familiar with Mindfulness-Based training and follows internationally recognized Good Practice Guidelines for Mindfulness-based Approaches.
Intervention type
Behavioural
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Measured at baseline and post-intervention (at 1 month and 6 months):
1. Emotional intelligence (S-PEC)
2. Resiliency (BRS)
3. Work engagement (SMVS)
4. Perceived stress (PSS-10 and a single-item measure of stress symptoms)
5. Mindfulness (MAAS)
6. Well-being (WHO-5)
Secondary outcome measures
There are no secondary outcome measures
Overall trial start date
01/09/2020
Overall trial end date
31/12/2021
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Module 1
1. Participation in the information meeting
2. Ensuring commitment towards personal practice
3. Commitment to complete the questionnaires
4. Working for WHO (any office of EURO) or a UN agency based in UN City Copenhagen
5. Greater than 18 years of age
Module 2
1. Completion of Module 1 (minimum 93%)
2. Individual evaluation of medical pre-condition (questionnaire -Annex2- plus individual consultation if one risk factor is identified)
3. Ensuring commitment towards personal practice
4. Commitment to complete the questionnaires for Module 2
Participant type
Healthy volunteer
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
135
Participant exclusion criteria
There are no exclusion criteria for Module 1
Module 2
1. Medical pre-condition which is a contraindication to the practices taught during Module 2 (e.g. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, acute depression).
Participants will be excluded from the study if they end their participation during the training
Recruitment start date
03/11/2020
Recruitment end date
15/03/2021
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Denmark
Trial participating centre
World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe
UN City
Marmorvej 51
Copenhagen
2100
Denmark
Sponsor information
Organisation
World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe
Sponsor details
UN City
Marmorvej 51
Copenhagen
2100
Denmark
+ 45 40 22 14 05
dondogliopi@who.int
Sponsor type
Government
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
World Health Organization
Alternative name(s)
WHO
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
International organizations
Location
Switzerland
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Each participant will receive a personal analysis of the evaluation of their different score collected during the research. A personal consultation with the psychologist will be offered to discuss individual evaluations.
Results will also be shared with EURO Learning Committee, EURO Staff Development and Learning, and Global Learning and Development Committee.
The intention is to also publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal. The principal investigator will take the lead in the publication with all researchers involved based on their role in design of the study, field work and writing the manuscript. Potential co-authors include but limited with the members of the Team. This investigators will also make all possible to ensure that each participant becomes familiar with the results of the study within 3 months from the date of the first publication on the study.
IPD sharing statement:
All data generated or analysed during this study will be included in the subsequent results publication.
Intention to publish date
30/11/2022
Participant level data
Other
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list