Healthcare workers face serious mental health challenges as a result of ongoing work stress. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated that stress, resulting in high rates of anxiety, depression, and burnout. To date, few evidence-based programs targeting mental health outcomes in health care workers have been described.
Yi-Frazier, et al. (2022) sought to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of a skills-based coaching program designed to reduce stress and build resilience.
A pilot cohort study was conducted between September 2020 and April 2021 using preprogram and post-program assessments and a mixed-methods analysis. Duration of follow-up was 7 weeks. The coaching program was delivered via video conferencing. Participants were healthcare workers and staff from a large urban health system.
The Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM) program, a manualized, skills-based coaching program originally developed for adolescents and young adults with serious/chronic illness, was adapted to support healthcare workers and staff (“PRISM at Work”). It included 6 weekly 1-hour group sessions.
Feasibility was defined a priori as 70% completion rates. Acceptability was defined quantitatively (satisfaction scores) and qualitatively (open-ended questions regarding experience with program). Preliminary outcomes were assessed with preprogram and post program assessments of self-reported resilience, stress, anxiety, and burnout using validated instruments. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic variables and feasibility and acceptability. Linear mixed effects regression models examined preliminary outcomes, controlling for relevant covariates.
A total of 153 participants (median [SD] age, 40.6 [10.1] years; 142 [92%] were female; 128 [84%] identified as having White race; 81 [53%] were in patient-facing roles) enrolled. Of the 132 healthcare workers who provided follow-up surveys, 120 (91%) had completed the program, and 116 (88%) reported being satisfied. Answers to open-ended questions suggested that participants wanted more PRISM either with longer or additional sessions. Participant-reported resilience (β = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.00-2.48), stress (β = −2.40; 95% CI, −3.28 to −1.51), anxiety (β = −2.04; 95% CI, −2.74 to −1.34), and burnout-exhaustion (β = −0.37; 95% CI, −0.56 to −0.18) improved after the program.
Results of this study suggest that PRISM at Work may have utility for healthcare workers and staff in that the program was found to be feasible, acceptable, and associated with improved outcomes.
Reference: Yi-Frazier JP, et al. Assessment of Resilience Training for Hospital Employees in the Era of COVID-19. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(7):e2220677. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.20677