Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on stress response and job burnout of head nurses in the context of Coronavirus disease 2019

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the efforts of applying mindfulness stress reduction therapy in alleviating stress reactions and burnout among head nurses in the context of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods This was a quasi experimental study. In June 2021, 109 head nurses with mild or above burnout measured by Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) from 12 hospitals in Zhangjiagang City were selected as the research objects to implement mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy for 8 weeks, and the scores of the Five Facet Mindfulness Question-naire (FFMQ), Stress Response Questionnaire (SRQ) and MBI of the head nurses were compared before and after the intervention. Results The five dimensions of observation, description, perceived action, non-judgment, and non-response and the total scores of the FFMQ were (26.28 ± 1.32), (26.94 ± 1.29), (25.49 ± 0.99), (25.45 ± 1.05), (23.48 ± 1.01), and (127.63 ± 3.78) of the post-intervention, which were higher than the pre-intervention scores of (25.04 ± 1.37), (25.04 ± 1.37), (25.37 ± 1.18), (24.15 ± 1.00), (24.09 ± 0.98), (22.26 ± 1.04), and (120.90 ± 4.06), with statistically significant differences (t values were -39.21- -15.36, all P＜0.01). The three dimensions of emotional, somatic, and behavioral responses and total scores of the post-intervention SRQ were (27.70 ± 6.12), (20.75 ± 4.20), (15.19 ± 3.11), and (65.99 ± 12.43), respectively, lower than the pre-intervention scores of (29.19 ± 6.91), (21.86 ± 5.20), (16.48 ± 4.16), and (70.12 ± 15.97), with statistically significant differences (t values were 5.70-9.33, all P＜0.01);the scores of dimensions of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization in post-intervention MBI were (26.24 ± 4.60) and (5.96 ± 1.25), lower than the pre-intervention scores of (29.66 ± 6.02) and (6.90 ± 1.59). The post-intervention scores of personal fulfillment (32.37 ± 5.02), higher than the pre-intervention scores of (28.60 ± 6.04), all with statistically significant differences (t=15.36, 13.50, - 9.65, all P＜0.01). Conclusions The implementation of mindfulness stress reduction therapy for the head nurses can relieve their work pressure due to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic, reshape their healthy psychology, and reduce job burnout. © The Author(s) 2023.