RCT: Mindfulness for Social Work and Self-care

NCT05538650 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: REF167_2122
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Social work is a stressful occupation with social workers at high risk of job-related stress and burnout. Mindfulness has been evidenced as a promising approach for improving: recovery from stress; behavioural responses to stress; and resilience. The Mindfulness-based social work and self-care programme, a bespoke and innovative online mindfulness programme developed for frontline social workers, have been shown to be effective in improving aspects of psychological and general wellbeing among a social work population. The main aim of the study is to confirm the efficacy of this bespoke, innovative, 6-session Mindfulness Intervention for social workers (MBSWSC) in reducing social worker stress, feelings of burnout, anxiety, low mood and improving well-being. The study will also compare outcomes from the MBSWSC with a briefer, condensed 3 session mindfulness programme (MBSC). The findings of this study will serve to complement and confirm the findings of an initial RCT, but in a post-covid environment.

Conditions

Burnout, Professional; Mindfulness; Stress, Psychological; Behaviour

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Change in Stress measured on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

  The Perceived Stress Scale is a 10-item, reliable and valid, measure of perceived stress. Scores on this scale can range from 0-40, with higher scores indicative of higher levels of stress

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

• Change in Burnout measured on the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)

  The Maslach Burnout Inventory is a 22-item, reliable and valid measure of work-related burnout. The scale comprises 3 sub scales: burnout, depersonalisation, and personal achievement. The burnout subscale was used in this study. Scores on this sub scale can range from 0-42. Scores of ≤17 on this subscale are indicative of low-level burnout; scores of 18-29 indicate moderate burnout; scores ≥30 indicate high level burnout.

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

• Change in Anxiety measured on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A)

  Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale is a 14-item, reliable and valid measure of anxiety and depression. 7 of the 14 items measure severity of anxiety (HADS-A). Scores on this sub scale can range from 0-21. HADS-A subscale scores of 0-7 are considered normal, whilst scores of 11 or more are classified as moderate to severe

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

• Change in Depression measured on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D)

  Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale is a 14-item reliable and valid measure of anxiety and depression. 7 of the 14 items measure severity of depression (HADS-D). Scores on this sub scale can range from 0-21. HADS-D subscale scores of 0-7 are considered normal, whilst scores of 11 or more are classified as moderate to severe

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

• Change in Wellbeing measured on the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS)

  The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale is a 14 item, reliable and valid measure of mental wellbeing. Scores on this scale can range from 14-70. Lower Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale scores are indicative of poorer mental wellbeing

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Change in Mindfulness measured by on the Southampton Mindfulness Questionnaire (SMQ)

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

• Change in Self-compassion measured by on the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS)

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

• Change in Worry measured on the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ)

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

• Change in Attention Regulation (Decentering) measured on the Experiences Questionnaire - Decentring (EQ-D)

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

• Change in Acceptance measured on the The Philadelphia Mindfulness - Acceptance Subscale (PHLMS-A)

  Pre-intervention (week 1); Post-intervention (week 8); 3-month follow-up (week 20)

Study Arms (2)

Mindfulness-based Social Work and Self-care (MBSWSC)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the experimental group will participate in the 6 session Mindfulness Based Social Work and Self Care (MBSWSC) programme. MBSWSC is facilitated by two accredited mindfulness practitioners, who are also qualified social workers. Sessions will be supported/supplemented with brief homework activities to help embed mindfulness practice.

Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Social Work and Self Care (MBSWSC)

Mindfulness and Self-care (MBSC)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants in the active comparator group will participated in the 3 session Mindfulness and Self-care (MBSC) programme. MBSC is facilitated by two accredited mindfulness practitioners, who are also qualified social workers. Sessions will be supported/supplemented with brief homework activities to help embed mindfulness practice.

Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Self-Care (MBSC)

Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Social Work and Self Care (MBSWSC) BEHAVIORAL

MBSWSC is a unique mindfulness-based programme for social work and self-care which has been specifically developed for online delivery. The MBSWSC programme is embedded within key cognitive and emotion regulation, and stress coping theory. This programme combines mindfulness practices with psychoeducation with the aim of allowing participants to reduce any negative thinking about the past and future by learning skills that will allow them to focus on the present. It will also focus on how to effectively apply these newly acquired mindfulness skills in social work practice. The programme has been the subject of an initial RCT, which has helped to inform the current programme content and structure. The MBSWSC programme comprises 6x1.5 hour sessions, delivered weekly, over a 6 week period. Homework, in the form of mindfulness practices, is given each week. This will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, on 6 out of 7 days, each week.

Also known as: MBSWSC

Mindfulness-based Social Work and Self-care (MBSWSC)

Mindfulness-Based Self-Care (MBSC) BEHAVIORAL

MBSC is a modified, condensed Mindfulness Based Intervention; with a key focus on self-compassion/self-care. Key practices in this condensed programme were chosen for their relevance and utility to social workers. The MBSC programme comprises 3x1 hour sessions delivered over a 6 week period, with one session every two weeks. Homework, in the form of mindfulness practices, is given each week. This will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, on 6 out of 7 days, each week.

Also known as: MBSC

Mindfulness and Self-care (MBSC)

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Frontline social work practitioner
• Working in Northern Ireland
• Aged 18 years and over

You may not qualify if:

• Social workers in strategic social work roles with no contact with clients

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Queen's University, Belfast: lead

Study Sites (1)

Queen's University Belfast

Belfast, Northern Ireland, BT7 1NN, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Professional; Stress, Psychological; Behavior

Interventions

Self Care

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Occupational Stress; Occupational Diseases; Burnout, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapeutics; Rehabilitation; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Officials

• Alan Maddock, Dr

  University College Dublin

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Site Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 9, 2022
• First Posted: September 14, 2022
• Study Start: October 4, 2022
• Primary Completion: March 8, 2023
• Study Completion: March 8, 2023
• Last Updated: January 19, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-01

Locations

GB (1)