The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral interventions in reducing stress among nurses working in hospitals: a systematic review protocol

Abstract

Review question/objective The objective of this review is to present the best available evidence for the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral interventions in reducing stress, preventing burnout, improving mood states, and reducing work absences among hospital nurses. The specific review questions to be addressed are: 1.What is the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral interventions in comparison to usual care in reducing stress, preventing burnout, improving mood states, and reducing work absences among hospital nurses? 2.What is the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral interventions of different formats (for example, didactic teaching, workshop, role play) in reducing stress, preventing burnout, improving mood states, and reducing work absences among hospital nurses? 3.What is the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral interventions of different intensities (for example, different duration and frequency of sessions) in reducing stress, preventing burnout, improving mood states, and reducing work absences among hospital nurses? Usual care is defined as either no intervention or general stress management interventions such as massage therapy, yoga, meditation, and mantra. Inclusion criteria Types of participants This review will consider studies that included nurses working in acute, rehabilitation, convalescent settings and community centers, regardless of gender or ethnicity. Nurses will include enrolled nurses, registered nurses, midwives, nursing officers, advanced practice nurses, and managers. Types of intervention(s)/phenomena of interest This review will include studies which apply cognitive behavioral therapy interventions which includes cognitive restructuring and behavioral stress management. Programs which are conducted by psychologists, trained healthcare workers or trained nurses, either in groups or individually one on one, will be considered. They may be delivered in either a role play format or through workshops and may be conducted in a one day session or in separate sessions ranging from eight hours to 16 hours. Types of outcomes The primary outcomes include stress reduction and improving physiological parameters. Stress reduction is defined as decreasing levels of stress as measured by subjective methods like self-reported level of stress, for example Perceived Stress Scale27, Psychiatric Occupational Stress Scale 28, Nursing Stress Scale29, DeVilliers Carson Leary Stress Scale30, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Physiological parameters are defined as a decrease in the blood pressure TRUNCATED AT 350 WORDS