Feasibility and effectiveness of a workplace-adapted mindfulness-based programme to reduce stress in workers of a private sector logistics company: an exploratory mixed methods study

There is a high prevalenceof stress in the logistics sector owing to very demanding, fast-paced and unpredictable tasks. Mindfulness-based programmes may reduce stress but require considerable practice. Our aim was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a shortened, workplace-adapted, mindfulness-based programme for the logistics sector (WA-MBP-LS) for the purpose of reducing stress.A non-blinded, non-randomized, two-arm, controlled trial was conducted. The WA-MBP-LS (n=32) consisted of 6weekly 90-minute mindfulness sessions. The control group (n=36) attended a psycho-educational seminar. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) were measured at pre-test, post-test and 6-month follow-up. Differences between groups were evaluated using mixed-effects models. Qualitative methods were used to analyse implementation issues. A 64.2% reduction was observed between initial volunteers and actual participants. Attrition at6-month follow-up was 45.6%. Participants attended a median of 5 sessions. Decreases in PSS favoured the WA-MBP-LS group at post-test and follow-up. FFMQ played a mediating role in PSS reductions. Barriers were disinterest, lack of programming, work overload and job unattended. Facilitators were curiosity, timing, company facilities and audio recordings.The WA-MBP-LS was feasible and effective to reduce stress, but more efforts to improve the practicalities of implementation would be desirable.