JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Past research has found digitally supported mindfulness interventions to be effective when used for stress management among workers in high-stress occupations. Previous research findings on digitally supported mindfulness interventions among nurses working in acute in-patient care settings are heterogeneous, lack long-term follow-up, and do not assess adherence and acceptability.

Objective:

We aim to investigate the effectiveness and efficacy to a digitally supported mindfulness intervention aimed to improve subjective health- and work-related outcomes among nurses and nursing trainees in acute in-patient care settings.

Methods:

We are conducting a multicenter randomized controlled trial using a wait list control group design. Randomization will be stratified by hospital and job status (nurse/nursing trainee). Recruitment will take place online and offline during nurses’ working hours. The intervention group will receive a digitally supported mindfulness intervention, which consists of an app, two online workshops and a workbook, while the wait list control group is scheduled to receive the same intervention 14 weeks later. The two online workshops will be led by a certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) trainer. Nurses will use the app and the workbook independently. Self-report online surveys will be conducted online at baseline, at 10-week post-allocation, at 24-week post-allocation, and, for the intervention group only, at 38-week post-allocation. Outcomes of interest will include perceived stress (primary outcome), health- and work-related variables, and variables related to adherence and acceptability of the digitally supported mindfulness intervention. We will perform intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses.

Results:

All data collection will be completed by end of July 2022. Data analyses will be completed by December 2022.

Conclusions:

Our study design, including long-term follow-up and the investigation of variables related to adherence and acceptability will ensure rigorous evaluation of effectiveness and efficacy. If long-term effectiveness of this digitally supported mindfulness intervention for nurses and nursing trainees in acute in-patient care settings can be established, this intervention could constitute a cost-effective stress management tool. Findings will inform stakeholders' decisions regarding the implementation of similar interventions to promote wellbeing for nurses and nursing trainees, which may in turn alleviate detrimental stress-related outcomes (e.g. burnout) due to work-related demands. Clinical Trial: The study is registered as a clinical trial (DRKS00025997) and has received Institutional Review Board approval.