Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms, emotional exhaustion and coping styles of Emergency Nurses: A
Randomized Clinical Trial
Abstract
Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the
most prevalent mental health issues among emergency nurses, particularly
in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a scarcity
of empirical studies on improving PTSD and related symptoms.
Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of the
mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in reducing PTSD
symptoms, emotional exhaustion, and coping styles among emergency
nurses. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted with
74 emergency nurses experiencing symptoms of PTSD who were recruited
from two hospitals. Participants were randomly assigned to either the
intervention group (n=38) or the comparison group (n=36) using a random
number calculation procedure. The intervention group received an 8-week
MBSR program, while the comparison group had the option to receive the
same training upon completion of the study. Self-reported data on
mindfulness, PTSD symptoms, emotional exhaustion, and coping styles were
evaluated at baseline, after treatment, and 1-month of follow-up.
Results: Participants in the MBSR group showed a significant
improvement in PTSD symptoms (M(I-J)=-7.789, P<0.001,
95% CI=3.642~11.937), emotional exhaustion
(M(I-J)=4.763, P=0.004, 95%CI=1.274~8.253) and
mindfulness (M(I-J)=-7.421, P<0.001,
95%CI=-12.349~2.493) after treatment. These effects
were sustained up to 1-month follow-up. No significant improvement in
coping style was observed in any of the subjects. Conclusion:
MBSR is feasible and effective in reducing symptoms of PTSD and
emotional exhaustion among emergency nurses. However, it has a lesser
effect on coping styles. MBSR has the potential to alleviate the
psychological impact of occupational stress on nurses.