Behavioral health support for health care workers during COVID-19: An observational study of a remote mindfulness intervention

While evidence exists for effective remote mindfulness-based interventions (MBI) with nurses, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, less literature exists supporting effectiveness in broader groups of healthcare workers (HCWs). A clinically validated MBI was evaluated in HCWs at an academic medical center during COVID-19. Remote 1.5-h, 6-week sessions met throughout 2021–2022. Sessions included social support, educational, and mindfulness components. Pre-post analyses (<i>n</i> = 52) evaluated anxiety, depression, burnout, self-rated general health, and Self-Compassion at baseline (Week 1), program conclusion (Week 6) and 3-months post-intervention using mixed effect linear regression models. Program acceptability was measured at Week 6 with a single-item question ranking usefulness across all six sessions. Anxiety (−3.4 [95% CI −4.9, −1.9]), depression (−6.2 [95% CI −8.7, −3.7]), and burnout (−0.33 [95% CI −0.6, −0.11]) were significantly reduced from Week 1 to Week 6. Reductions were maintained 3-months post-intervention. Self-Compassion significantly increased (0.3 [95% CI 0.2, 0.5]) from Week 1 to Week 6, and this increase was maintained 3-months post-intervention. There was no significant change in self-rated general health. All sessions were acceptable. These results support the implementation of remote MBI for HCWs given continued mental health burdens in this workforce.

现有研究证实针对护士的远程正念干预（Mindfulness-Based Interventions, MBI）效果显著，但在新冠疫情期间，针对更广泛医护人员（Healthcare Workers, HCWs）群体的有效支持性文献仍较为匮乏。本研究针对某学术医疗中心的医护人员，在新冠疫情期间对一款经临床验证的正念干预方案展开了评估。该干预方案为2021年至2022年间开展的为期6周、每周1.5小时的远程课程，课程涵盖社会支持、健康教育与正念练习三大模块。研究采用前后测分析（样本量n=52），在基线（第1周）、课程结束（第6周）以及干预后3个月三个时间点，通过混合效应线性回归模型评估了受试者的焦虑、抑郁、职业倦怠、自我评估整体健康状况以及自我同情水平。在第6周时，采用单条目问题对全部6次课程的有用性进行评分，以此衡量项目接受度。从第1周至第6周，受试者的焦虑得分（-3.4 [95% CI −4.9, −1.9]）、抑郁得分（-6.2 [95% CI −8.7, −3.7]）与职业倦怠得分（-0.33 [95% CI −0.6, −0.11]）均出现显著下降，且该改善效果在干预后3个月得以维持。自我同情得分则从第1周至第6周显著提升（0.3 [95% CI 0.2, 0.5]），该提升效果同样在干预后3个月保持稳定。自我评估的整体健康状况未出现显著变化，且所有课程均获得了良好的接受度。鉴于医护群体持续面临的心理健康负担，本研究结果支持远程正念干预方案在医护人员群体中的推广应用。