Plain language summary
Many studies have found mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy to significantly reduce stress levels and enhance wellbeing. Among healthcare practitioners, psychiatric nurses experience higher stress and poorer mental health. Therefore the aim of this study was to examine the effects of MBSR on the mental health of 100 psychiatric nurses in China. Nurses were randomised to either receive psychological support including MBSR or to receive psychological support without MBSR weekly. Mental health assessments were taken at baseline and completion of the intervention. This study found that while all participants showed improvements in mental health, those receiving MBSR experienced significant improvement compared with the control group. Based on these results the authors conclude that MBSR therapy is conducive to reducing work-related stress of psychiatric nurses.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychiatric nurses are a special group of nursing staff, they experience greater work stress and lower mental health levels than regular nurses. In order to address this problem, the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) therapy on work stress and mental health of psychiatric nurses is investigated in this study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS From August 2017 to November 2017, 100 psychiatric nurses, including 68 females and 32 males, were selected as participants from three hospitals in Hunan Province of China. They were randomly divided into the intervention and control groups, with 50 respondents in each group. MBSR therapy was used as psychological intervention in the intervention group. Before and after the intervention, the two groups were assessed with the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Nursing Stress Scale. RESULTS (1) After the intervention, the SCL-90 score of the intervention group decrease significantly, and a statistically significant difference is observed with the figure before the intervention (P<0.001). No statistically significant difference is found in the control group (P>0.05). (2) After the intervention, the SDS and SAS scores of the intervention group decrease significantly, and a statistically significant difference is observed with the figures before the intervention (P<0.001). No statistically significant difference is found in the control group (P>0.05). (3) After the intervention, the Nursing Stress Scale score of the intervention group Nursing Stress Scale decrease significantly, and a statistically significant difference is observed with the figure before the intervention (P<0.001). No statistically significant difference is found in the control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS MBSR therapy can reduce work stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions among psychiatric nurses and improve their mental health.
Methodological quality
Jadad score
:
3
Allocation concealment
:
Yes
