Art Therapy to address burnout in NHS clinicians
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Art Therapy to address burnout in NHS clinicians – a stepped-wedge trial
IRAS ID
271031
Contact name
Mark Barrington
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Barts Health NHS Trust (Barts Health)
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 29 days
Research summary
Aims:
1. Undertake a stepped wedge trial to produce evidence and recommendations for the effective use of a structured art therapy model to address work related stress, compassion fatigue and burnout in NHS clinicians.
2. Build on the knowledge and understanding gained from a 4-year pilot, in which the Lead Art Psychotherapist at Barts Hospital used art therapy on oncology and palliative care doctors. [MBI-HSS scores from 14 participants showed that the mean pre-intervention scores of the participants demonstrated burnout. Following the course there were statistically significant improvements in emotional exhaustion (p=< 0.001) and personal achievement (p = 0.011) (removing one outlying participant’s score from the latter). Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with most respondents finding the course ‘very helpful’.]The study will extend and test the current model of delivery which is a structured course of art therapy workshops addressing specific factors related to burnout and compassion fatigue. The Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was completed pre- and post-intervention and a feedback questionnaire completed at the end of each course. We will continue to use this measure along with the AAQII and semi structured interviews. We will be extending the groups to other specialities (for example cardiac, and ITU) and other staff groups (for example consultants and AHPs).
From this trial, we aim to develop our understanding of the benefits and potential shortfalls of the current approach which entails 6 weeks of structured art therapy workshops. We aim to develop an effective, creative, evidence based burnout intervention and means of improving clinician's wellbeing and resilience.
REC name
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REC reference
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