Mindfulness based MBSR programs have shown promise in regard to healthcare workers

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Mindfulness based (MBSR) programs have shown promise in regard to healthcare workers suffering from stress, but there are gaps in literature. Mental health professionals ironically ignored their chronic stress while caring for patients. The study aimed to discern whether a mandated MBSR program would decrease stress levels in professionals from the psychiatric department. It was hypothesised that this would reduce stress by increasing mindfulness within health workers. With no previous exposure to MBSR, nine medical workers, who were daily caring for patients with severe mental illnesses, were chosen. Participants’ depression (DASS test), and competency (KIMS test) were measured beforehand. The MBSR was conducted for eight weeks in the morning before shifts, 15 minutes per day with 30-minute education sessions every second week. The 15 minutes were broken into five minutes of body and ten minutes of breathing exercises. Stress and technique were measured immediately before and after. A feedback survey was obtained at the end of the study. 2/3 participants recalled improvement in relaxation. DASS results were halved, consistently decreasing in stress. 90% reported an increase in coping knowledge but this was not reflected in KIMS results, attributed to time constraints. However, there was no control group to measure outsider factors- changes in the workplace environment or other coping mechanisms that participants may have employed. Another limitation outlined that the sample size was very small, which could have affected reliability. For future research, it was suggested to increase sample size, test long-term effects of MBSR, enhance frequency and duration of the program and its effects on other factors of life. To conclude, the hypothesis was supported as the program was shown to reduce stress in workplace settings. It addresses any stigma against health care workers seeking help. This method was acknowledged as better than other prototypes, but even shorter programs would be of more benefit for workers lacking time. Nurses need strategies to manage their own wellbeing during stressful work demands; these strategies have not been researched. The study aimed to demonstrate the benefits of Yoga Nidra on stress reduction and improve coping mechanisms in nurses. It was hypothesised that yoga, applied short-term, would lower anxiety levels and boost fitness, therefore improving resilience by reducing stress. Nine nurses aged from 24- 49 practiced Yoga Nidra for the duration of the study- 6 sessions that lasted 1.5 hours. 8 Caucasians and 1 African American were picked from the psychiatric unit and worked 8-12 hour shifts and had 2-18 years of experience. A pre-program (Likert scale) survey assessed stress levels from 0-10, as well as muscular tension, sleep and previous yoga experience. These were organised within the workplace, after which a post- program survey assessed changes. The differences between the surveys were immense; week 3 and 6 were outliers. Average muscle tension went from 2.13 to 1.17, consistent with the hypothesis, decreased the average stress level from 1.82 to 1.0. However only four of nine completed the post-study survey; a small sample size could have affected reliability, so a bigger size was suggested for future. The trend of lower post session scores still suggested positive change and less accumulative stress. Other limitations included participation due to prior commitment. A shorter session was recommended, away from work; free time could be utilized by nurses. To conclude, the practice of yoga was shown to help psychiatric nurses manage pressure and supported the hypothesis, showing improvements in perceived stress and muscle tension, but future studies need to further test the viability of this intervention. Social workers are in risk of stress from disasters, and neglected from receiving proper care, as the literature surrounds survivors that they care for. This study aimed to test stress reduction abilities of Caregivers Journey of Hope (CJoH), on workers who were affected by, but also working during Superstorm Sandy. It was hypothesised that through action learning and social support, the psychosocial intervention would greatly reduce stress in participants. With secondary research data included, there were 722 participants. It comprised of 83% female, 37.2% African American, 36% Caucasian, 26% others. Almost half of the participants had post graduate degrees and worked with a range of 16 to 4-year-olds. CJoH ran for half a day and utilized group work; the main strategy being action learning alongside psychoeducation in coping and emotional processing. The reliability (with Cronbach’s scale) sufficiently obtained 7.9. The participants completed a pre and post program survey (Likert Scale) to uncover sources of stress and measure decreases. In sub-groups, participants discussed effective coping strategies and stress felt, hence addressing the situation and coping. Correlation analyses discerned whether a positive mindset had influence; it increased coping ability. The post and pretest surveys were compared, showing significant improvement in stress levels, while a regression analysis was conducted to show impacts on effectiveness for different demographics; African Americans adopted this coping mechanism better and workers with less experience and higher satisfaction with the program benefitted more. Further studies were urged to survey disaster surviving social workers who didn’t participate in the program, to be the control. Another limitation included the immediate pre and post- program data; long-term benefits and sustainability remain unknown. Accuracy could be affected by differing level of exposure to disasters. In conclusion, CJoH acted as a buffer and equipped social caregivers that were affected by Sandy with social support and coping strategies, especially within specific demographics. It enhanced recovery from stress of being both survivor and provider.