IS MINDFULNESS-BASED STRESS REDUCTION EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING STRESS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND INCREASING LEVEL OF SATISFACTION AMONG HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS? A META-ANALYSIS OF RCTs

Abstract

Introduction: During Covid-19 pandemics, healthcare workers are on the front lines putting themselves and their families at risk this could result in mental health problems .stress is a major obstacle for health care personnel that makes them less satisfied, less capable of making the best choices and could have difficulties when confronted with their patients which affects patient's care. Mindfulness – Based stress reduction (MBSR) is a program aimed to improve awareness of one’s mental processes, become flexible and act with the principal of compassion. (2). Many researches proposed MBSR for helping practitioners of becoming less vulnerable to stressors. However, results were inconclusive. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of MBSR intervention in stress reduction and enhancing level of satisfaction among health care professionals. Method and design: Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). Data Source: Medline, Psych info, PubMed, Web science and Cochrane Library Database from 2009 till 2019 for related RCTs. Selection Criteria: Published RCTs Comparing Mindfulness- Based Stress Reduction with other modalities for stress reduction and improving level of satisfaction among health care workers and stressed personnel were eligible for inclusion. Data Collection and analysis: Data entered organized in Microsoft excel 2010 then exported to comprehensive meta-analysis software version 3. Pooled: for analysis of multiple studies, and found adjusted accumulative outcome Z score method: to test difference in mean. Test for heterogeneity: Cochran’s Q test and I2. Results: In the ALL 6 included studies, 2896 subjects. There is significant improvement in perceived stress score significantly more among intervention (MBSR) group with pooled significant difference (Mean change-3.47 & SE 1.01, Z score 8.11) with no significant heterogeneity among studies. There is significant job satisfaction improvement in MBSR group significantly more than other group with pooled significant difference (mean change 5.18, SE 1.23, Z score 13.2) with no significant heterogeneity. Conclusion: these finding support that MBSR program is effective in reducing stress and increases job satisfaction among health care professionals. KEYWORDS: Mindfulness, Health workers, Stress, COVID-19 Pandemic, Systematic review, RCTs.