Mindful Life-Well at Work
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Life (MBCT-L) v. Stress-Reduction Psychoeducation (SRP) for the improvement of mental wellbeing in healthcare, social care and teaching professionals
IRAS ID
319606
Contact name
Elena Nixon
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research and Innovation, University of Nottingham
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN18049845
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Why the research is needed?
Healthcare and other public care staff are at risk of developing high levels of stress and poor mental health which have also been associated with poor outcomes for the wider organisations staff work for.
What is already known about the topic?
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and Stress Reduction Psychoeducation (SRP) interventions for reducing stress and improving staff wellbeing. SRP uses relaxation techniques to combat the negative consequences of stress. Mindfulness-based approaches combine mindfulness with relaxation, as well as cognitive-behavioural therapy elements in the version of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy-for Life (MBCT-L). MBCT-L develops one’s ability to view stress in a positive as well as negative light, promoting a more positive long-term outlook to life. While SRP is being offered widely as standard care to staff across all regions in England, MBCT-L is a newer approach widely implemented across health/public care organisations in East Midlands, and in a limited number of other regions across the UK.
What we will do?
We will run a trial to assess whether MBCT-L is superior to SRP in terms of effectiveness. We will recruit 208 staff working in healthcare, social care and teaching sectors through Integrated Care/Wellbeing Hubs across 4 UK public care sites. Participants will be randomly allocated to either a 8 week MBCT-L or a standard usual care 4-week SRP programme. The trial will look at the effects of the two interventions primarily on staff stress at baseline (prior to starting the intervention) and at 20 weeks post randomisation; and secondarily on other mental health aspects too as well as work-related aspects. A subsample of 30 participants will also be interviewed at 20 weeks post randomisation to acquire in-depth data on perceived impacts as well as barriers and facilitators to uptake.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/EM/0109
Date of REC Opinion
16 May 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion