Effects of Mobile App-Based Mindfulness Practice on Healthcare Workers: a Randomized Active Controlled Trial

• DOI: 10.1007/s12671-022-01975-8
• Publication Date: 2022-09-16T06:03:09Z
• Authors: Shian-Ling Keng; Joseph Wei Ern Chin; Maleyka Mammadova; Irene Teo
• Keywords: Economics; Population; Clinical psychology; Social Sciences; Experimental and Cognitive Psychology; Mindfulness and Psychological Well-being; Psychological Distress; Psychological Impact; 03 medical and health sciences; Intervention (counseling); 0302 clinical medicine; Psychology; Economic growth; Psychiatry; Original Paper; Health Care Workers; Distress; Health care; Sleep and Insomnia; 3. Good health; FOS: Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Mental Health; Environmental health; Randomized controlled trial; Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health; Medicine; Surgery; Mindfulness

Abstract Objectives Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers (HCWs) may be at greater risk of suffering from psychological distress compared to general population. This study aimed investigate effects mindfulness practice as delivered using Headspace on and cognitive outcomes among HCWs in Singapore. Methods A total 80 were recruited randomly assigned engage either 3 weeks (10 min/day) or an active control condition ( Lumosity ; involving playing games). Participants administered several self-report measures two working memory (digit span) tasks pre- post-intervention, one-month follow-up. Results There no significant between-condition changes any outcome variables post-intervention. From pre-intervention 1-month follow-up, there significantly improvements participants fear p = .005), compassion satisfaction .007), trait .002), self-compassion sleep quality forward digit span task < .001). Several mediated by increases self-compassion. Conclusions Use lead downstream benefits reducing improving health HCWs. The findings have implications for support resources amidst a pandemic. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT04936893).