Art Therapy to Address Hospital Clinician Burnout

NCT05728086 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 316097
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 131
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

A structured group art therapy intervention, comprising six 60 - 90-minute weekly workshops.

Conditions

Burnout; Anxiety; Stress; Depression

Keywords

Art therapy; psychosocial distress; hospital clinicians; burnout

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in burnout element 'Emotional Exhaustion' assessed using the Emotional Exhaustion scale of The Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS)

  The MBI-HSS assesses three elements of burnout syndrome: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment. Each element is measured by a separate scale. The Emotional Exhaustion (EE) scale assesses feelings of being emotionally over-extended and exhausted at work. It includes 9 items which are scored on a 7-item Likert scale from 0 = never to 6 = every day. The scale has a score range of 0-54 with higher scores corresponding to greater experiences of burnout.

  Baseline [T1], post 6-week intervention / post 6-week wait [T2], 12 week post intervention follow up [T3]

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Change in burnout element 'depersonalisation' assessed using the Depersonalisation scale of The Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS)

  Baseline [T1], post 6-week intervention / post 6-week wait [T2], 12 week post intervention follow up [T3]

• Change in burnout element 'personal accomplishment' assessed using the Personal Accomplishment scale of The Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS)

  Baseline [T1], post 6-week intervention / post 6-week wait [T2], 12 week post intervention follow up [T3]

• Change in anxiety assessed using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD 7)

  Baseline [T1], post 6-week intervention / post 6-week wait [T2], 12 week post intervention follow up [T3]

• Change in depression assessed using the Personal Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ 8)

  Baseline [T1], post 6-week intervention / post 6-week wait [T2], 12 week post intervention follow up [T3]

• Change in perceived stress assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)

  Baseline [T1], post 6-week intervention / post 6-week wait [T2], 12 week post intervention follow up [T3]

Study Arms (2)

Group art therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants randomised to the intervention group receive the group art therapy intervention shortly after baseline assessment. Adherence to the intervention will be checked via an adherence questionnaire completed by therapist delivering the intervention after each session. In addition, 20% of sessions will be observed by an independent researcher for adherence checking.

Other: Group art therapy

waitlist control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants randomised to the waitlist control group will complete outcomes measures at baseline and at the end of a 6 week waiting period. They will then begin the intervention (1-2 weeks after the intervention group has finished).

Interventions

Group art therapy OTHER

The intervention is a manualised programme of group art therapy based on a bio-psychosocial therapeutic model. The programme is made up of six 60 - 90-minute art therapy group sessions facilitated by an experienced HCPC (Health and Care Professions Council) registered Art Therapists trained in the intervention.

Group art therapy

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Healthcare professional employed in a patient facing clinical role by Barts Health NHS Trust or Barts Bank partners
• years or older
• Willing and able to provide informed consent
• Able to attend the group intervention sessions
• Moderate to severe risk scored on any of the three MBI - HSS subscales or on the PSS 10:
• emotional exhaustion score of ≥17, or
• depersonalization score of ≥7, or
• personal accomplishment score of ≤ 38 or
• perceived stress (≥ 14)

You may not qualify if:

• Unwilling or unable to give consent
• Diagnosed with or treated for a serious depressive condition, a personality disorder or psychosis in the past 12 months. (Self-reporting through screening.)
• Attempted suicide or made plans to commit suicide in the past 12 months. (Self-reporting through screening.)
• Individual does not provide direct patient care for Barts Health NHS Trust

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Barts & The London NHS Trust: lead
• Queen Mary University of London: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Barts Health NHS Trust

London, E13 8SP, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Tjasink, M., G. Soosaipillai (2019) Art therapy to reduce burnout in oncology and palliative care doctors: a pilot study.

  BACKGROUND

• Tjasink, M, Stevens, P. (2022). The innovative use of art psychotherapy with NHS clinicians in Jury, H. and Coles, A., 'Art Psychotherapy and Innovation: New Territories, Techniques and Technologies'. Jessica Kingsley, London: 83 - 103.

  BACKGROUND

• Maslach, C. et al. (2018). Maslach burnout inventory: manual. [Menlo Park, Calif.], Mind Garden.

  BACKGROUND

• Tjasink M, Carr CE, Bassett P, Soosaipillai G, Ougrin D, Priebe S. Art therapy to reduce burnout and mental distress in healthcare professionals in acute hospitals: a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Public Health. 2025 Aug 3;3(2):e002251. doi: 10.1136/bmjph-2024-002251. eCollection 2025.

  PMID: 40761359 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Psychological; Anxiety Disorders; Depression

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Stefan Priebe

  Queen Mary University of London

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Waitlist randomized controlled trial (RCT) design comprising an intervention group and a waitlist-control group

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 1, 2023
• First Posted: February 14, 2023
• Study Start: March 6, 2023
• Primary Completion: March 5, 2024
• Study Completion: March 5, 2024
• Last Updated: March 15, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)