A Randomised Controlled Trial of Self-help Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy for Health Workers

A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy Self-help Intervention for UK National Health Service Employees

This study examines whether a mindfulness-based self-help book is effective at reducing healthcare workers' levels of stress and improving their wellbeing.

This study is a randomised controlled trial (RCT) examining the efficacy of a mindfulness-based cognitive therapy self-help book ('Mindfulness: A practice guide to finding peace in a frantic world') relative to a wait-list control, in healthcare staff. It builds on a previous pilot RCT (http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16486066). A battery of measures will be administered at baseline (week 0), post-intervention (week 9) and follow-up (week 21). This trial is designed to test the following hypotheses.

Primary Hypothesis

-Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy self-help (MBCT-SH) participants, in comparison to waitlist control participants, will show a reduction in symptoms of stress by the end of MBCT-SH (week 9).

Secondary Hypotheses

• The improvement detailed in the primary hypothesis will be maintained at a follow-up 12 weeks after the end of the MBCT-SH (week 21).
• MBCT-SH participants, in comparison to waitlist control participants, will show improvements in mindfulness, other-compassion, self-compassion, anxiety, depression, burnout and mental well-being by the end of MBCT-SH (week 9), and these improvements will be maintained at a follow-up 12 weeks after the end of the MBCT-SH (week 21).
• MBCT-SH participants, in comparison to waitlist control participants, will show a reduction in the number of sickness absence days from the three months preceding the intervention to the three months following the intervention.
• Increases in self-compassion and mindfulness from week 0 to week 9, will mediate the effects of MBCT-SH (relative to waitlist control) on levels of stress, depression, anxiety, wellbeing and burnout.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Being currently employed by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (in the UK) in a role or roles that involve direct delivery of healthcare.
2. Having at least one day per week of direct contact with UK National Health Service service users.
3. Agreeing to refrain from engaging in another form of psychological therapy during the course of the study.
4. Having self-reported sufficient English language reading ability to read and understand the self-help book

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Being currently on leave of absence from work.
2. Having previously received a minimum dose (defined as 50% of a course or more) of a mindfulness-based intervention.