Mental Health Promotion Intervention for Nurses Working in German Psychiatric Hospital Departments: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This pilot study aimed to implement a mental health promotion program to support nurses working in Psychiatric hospital departments. Eighty-six nurses working in psychiatric hospitals were randomized to either an intervention group (IG) or a waitlist control group (WCG). The intervention took place in groups over a period of 12 weeks. Training content included, i.e. work-related stress management training, problem solving techniques, and solution-focused counseling. Outcomes were measured at four times (baseline and three follow-up measurements). Perceived stress, coping skills, emotion regulation skills and changes in patient relationships were included as outcome measurements. Psychiatric nurses in the IG reported significant changes in perceived job stress, emotion regulation skills, resilience, and self-efficacy after the intervention. In addition, scores on quality of patient-relationship were significantly higher after the intervention (e.g. support, conflict management; p < 0.05). No comparable results could be found in the WCG. A mental health promotion intervention for psychiatric nurses was successfully implemented. Further research is necessary to generalize these pilot study findings.