Frontiers in Psychiatry (Oct 2020)

Implementation of a Mindfulness-Based Crisis Intervention for Frontline Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Outbreak in a Public General Hospital in Madrid, Spain

  • Beatriz Rodriguez-Vega,
  • Beatriz Rodriguez-Vega,
  • Beatriz Rodriguez-Vega,
  • Ángela Palao,
  • Ángela Palao,
  • Ángela Palao,
  • Ainoa Muñoz-Sanjose,
  • Ainoa Muñoz-Sanjose,
  • Marta Torrijos,
  • Pablo Aguirre,
  • Arancha Fernández,
  • Blanca Amador,
  • Cristina Rocamora,
  • Laura Blanco,
  • Jesús Marti-Esquitino,
  • Aránzazu Ortiz-Villalobos,
  • Mónica Alonso-Sañudo,
  • Susana Cebolla,
  • Susana Cebolla,
  • Javier Curto,
  • Rosa Villanueva,
  • María-Jesús de-la-Iglesia,
  • Diego Carracedo,
  • Carlos Casado,
  • Emma Vidal,
  • Daniel Trigo,
  • Noelia Iglesias,
  • Diana Cabañas,
  • Loreto Mellado,
  • Daniel García,
  • Consuelo Fernández-Encinas,
  • Rubén Navarro,
  • Roberto Mediavilla,
  • María-Paz Vidal-Villegas,
  • María-Paz Vidal-Villegas,
  • María-Fe Bravo-Ortiz,
  • María-Fe Bravo-Ortiz,
  • María-Fe Bravo-Ortiz,
  • Carmen Bayón,
  • Carmen Bayón,
  • Carmen Bayón

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.562578
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Introduction: The COVID-19 outbreak is having an impact on the well-being of healthcare workers. Mindfulness-based interventions have shown effectiveness in reducing stress and fostering resilience and recovery in healthcare workers. There are no studies examining the feasibility of brief mindfulness-based interventions during the COVID-19 outbreak.Materials and Methods: This is an exploratory study with a post intervention assessment. We describe an on-site brief mindfulness intervention and evaluate its helpfulness, safety, and feasibility.Results: One thousand out of 7,000 (14%) healthcare workers from La Paz University Hospital in Madrid (Spain) participated in at least one session. One hundred and fifty out of 1,000 (15%) participants filled out a self-report questionnaire evaluating the helpfulness of the intervention for on-site stress reduction. Ninety two subjects (61%) participated in more than one session. Most of the participants were women (80%) with a mean age of 38.6 years. Almost half of the sample were nurses (46%). Sessions were perceived as being helpful with a mean rating of 8.4 on a scale from 0 to 10. Only 3 people (2%) reported a minor adverse effect (increased anxiety or dizziness).Discussion: Our data supports the utility, safety and feasibility of an on-site, brief mindfulness-based intervention designed to reduce stress for frontline health workers during a crisis. There is a need to continue testing this type of interventions, and to integrate emotion regulation strategies as an essential part of health workers' general training.Clinical Trial Registration number: NCT04555005.

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