Mindful Attention Training Workshop for Firefighters

NCT04909216 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: STUDY00002213
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 82
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The overarching goal of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of Mindful Attention Training (MAT), a novel mindfulness-based intervention that is specifically developed for firefighters. This project is designed to improve the health of firefighters, an integral, essential component of our national and international communities. Moreover, the study aims to promote health service psychologists by enhancing our contributions to the mental healthcare of firefighters, an understudied and underserved segment of the population by virtue of their service to our communities. This study therefore has significant potential to identify, develop, and promote an effective model of quality, evidence-based mental health promotion and illness prevention by integrating health service psychology into the fire service.

Conditions

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; Mindfulness; Firefighters; Trauma; Mental Disorders

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (8)

• Changes in mindfulness

  To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop by examining self-reported levels of (1) nonjudgmental acceptance, (2) nonreactivity as well as (3) psychological resilience and (4) self-compassion at each time point using the following measure: \- Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ; Baer et al., 2006): 39-item measure that assesses a participant's capacity for the following five factors: observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience.

  Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

• Changes in mindful attention

  To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop by examining self-reported levels of mindful attention and awareness at each time point using the following measure: \- Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown \& Ryan, 2003): 15-item scale assessing a participant's capacity for mindful attention, a key component of mindfulness.

  Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

• Changes in PTSD symptom severity

  To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the symptom severity of PTSD at each time point using the following measure: \- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (PCL-5): 20-item self-report measure that assesses the 20 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) symptoms of PTSD over the past month.

  Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

• Changes in hazardous drinking patterns

  To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the alcohol use and alcohol use severity at each time point using the following measure: \- Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): 10-item screening measurement to assess any hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption during the past year.

  Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

• Changes in depressive symptoms

  To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the symptom severity of depression at each time point using the following measure: \- Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS): 5 item measure assessing for past week depression-related symptoms.

  Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

• Changes in suicidal thoughts

  To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the severity and presence of suicidal thoughts at each time point using the following measure: \- Beck Suicide Scale-5 (BSS-5): 5-item measure assessing the presence and intensity of suicidal thoughts.

  Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

• Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop

  To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the MAT workshop, as compared to waitlist, as defined by: (1) firefighters' self-reported helpfulness of the workshop and (2) firefighters' self-reported efficacy ratings of the workshop using the following measure: \- Post-MAT Workshop Questionnaire (Post-MAT): 10-item questionnaire assessing the degree to which participants found the workshop helpful and tolerable.

  Administered at 1-week follow-up

• Changes in anxiety symptoms

  To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the symptom severity of anxiety at each time point using the following measure: \- Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS): 5 item measure assessing for past week anxiety-related symptoms.

  Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Evaluate group dynamics

  Administered at 1-week follow-up

• Evaluate group cohesion

  Administered at 1-week follow-up

• Evaluate occupational stress

  Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up

Study Arms (2)

Mindful Attention Workshop

EXPERIMENTAL

50 participants will be randomized to the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop. The 90-minute workshop will be conducted in group, online format.

Other: Mindful Attention Workshop

Waitlist Control

NO INTERVENTION

50 participants will be randomized to the waitlist control condition ("as usual" condition).

Interventions

Mindful Attention Workshop OTHER

The 90-minute workshop will include a 15-minute break and include up to 15 participants. The workshop will be led by peer support staff, fire department psychologists, and/or fire department doctoral psychology practicum students. Each workshop will be facilitate by up to 3 workshop leaders. The workshop will provide (1) psychoeducation regarding common mental health concerns among firefighters, (2) introduction to the concept of mindful attention, why it is relevant to firefighters, and how it can prevent or decrease mental health symptoms, (3) 5 experiential mindful attention training exercises, and (4) discussion. Workshop co-leaders will teach 5 mindful attention exercises, and firefighters will practice each exercise and then engage in discussion about their experiences and provide feedback regarding the utility of the exercise for them personally and for firefighters, generally.

Mindful Attention Workshop

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• ≥ 18 years of age
• Current employment as a firefighter with the Houston Fire Department

You may not qualify if:

• Persons who are not actively employed in the Houston Fire Department (e.g. former firefighters, retired firefighters)
• Current imminent risk of suicidality and/or homicidality (i.e., past month ideation with intent or plan)
• Inability to provide verbal or written consent
• Study personnel will not recruit or screen for individuals who fall into the following categories: pregnant women, prisoners, students for whom study personnel have direct access to/influence on grades, or economically and/or educationally disadvantaged persons

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Houston: lead

Study Sites (1)

Trauma and Stress Studies Center

Houston, Texas, 77204, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Wounds and Injuries; Mental Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Education

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 19, 2021
• First Posted: June 1, 2021
• Study Start: May 5, 2021
• Primary Completion: April 14, 2023
• Study Completion: April 14, 2023
• Last Updated: May 9, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-05

Locations

US (1)