Abstract
In primary health care, the work environment can cause high levels of anxiety and depression, triggering relevant expert and individual change. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs reduce signs of anxiety and depression. The purpose of this sub-analysis of the total project, was to equate the effectiveness of the standard MBSR curriculum with the abbreviated version in minimizing anxiety and depression. This randomized controlled clinical trial enrolled 112 mentors and resident specialists from Family and Community Medicine and Nurses (FCMN), distributed across six teaching units (TU) of the Spanish National Health System (SNHS). Experimental group participants received a MBRS training (abbreviated/standard). Depression and anxiety levels were measured with the Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GADS) at three different time periods during the analysis: before (pre-test) and after (post-test) participation, as well as 3 months after the completion of intervention. Taking into account the pre-test scores as the covariate, an adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed significant depletion in anxiety and depression in general (F (2.91) = 4.488; p = 0.014; η2 = 0.090) and depression in particular (F (2, 91) = 6.653; p = 0.002; η2 = 0.128 at the post-test visit, maintaining their effects for 3 months (F (2.79) = 3.031; p = 0.050; η2 = 0.071—F (2.79) = 2.874; p = 0.049; η2 = 0.068, respectively), which is associated with the use of a standard training program. The abbreviated training program did not have a significant effect on the level of anxiety and depression. The standard MBSR training program had a positive effect on anxiety and depression and promotes long-lasting effects in tutors and resident practitioners. New research is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of abbreviated versions of training programs.
Highlights
The level of health perceived by workers is closely related to the psychosocial components of the work environment
Out of the 165 participants that were included in the study (63 in control group (CG), 39 in EG1, and 63 in EG2) there were 38 losses due to the refusal to a continuous participation in the research and 15 because due to an inappropriate program adherence
This dropout rate was higher in EG2 (n = 26) than in EG1 (n = 15), being the main reason a refusal to continue to participate in the program
Summary
The level of health perceived by workers is closely related to the psychosocial components of the work environment. These components directly affect a person’s professional life, harming their physical and mental health, as well as the quality of life, contributing to the emergence and manifestation of various pathologies [1]. The psychosocial environment of health professionals and especially primary health care personnel is characterized by a high degree of self-perceived stress and tremendous emotional and psychological demands. For this reason, these experts have a greater risk of developing anxiety and depressive disorders than the rest of the population [2,3]. Some of the stressors are inherent in the health profession, such as long working hours, unpredictable work, dealing with pain, suffering, and death, or supporting families
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