Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Reducing Psychological Distress in Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial
BackgroundPsychological distress is prevalent among health care professionals and can lead to poor-quality patient care. Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) is a promising intervention for improving mental health due to its low cost and easy access. Howeve...
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JMIR Publications
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e59093 |
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| author | Lin Zhang Shuang Huang Sha Liu Yuanxiu Huang Shan Chen Jinsong Hu Mingzhong Xu |
| author_facet | Lin Zhang Shuang Huang Sha Liu Yuanxiu Huang Shan Chen Jinsong Hu Mingzhong Xu |
| author_sort | Lin Zhang |
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BackgroundPsychological distress is prevalent among health care professionals and can lead to poor-quality patient care. Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) is a promising intervention for improving mental health due to its low cost and easy access. However, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness in reducing health care professionals’ psychological distress.
ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the effects of iACT on psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression) among health care professionals in China.
MethodsFrom October 2022 to February 2023, a total of 108 health care professionals were recruited via WeChat and randomized into a 6-week iACT intervention program with therapist support (n=54) or waitlist control group (n=54). The intervention included 21 self-guided sessions combining teaching videos, mindfulness practices, and journal writing, followed by 7 live conferences to share experiences and discuss questions, all conducted via WeChat. Primary outcomes (stress, anxiety, and depression) and secondary outcomes (burnout and psychological flexibility) were collected using the Sojump platform, the most popular web-based survey platform in China. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare the outcomes between groups and assess the effects of group, time, and group-by-time interaction. Subgroup and sensitive analyses were performed to test the robustness of our findings across various groups.
ResultsAmong the 108 health care professionals, 68 (63%) completed the follow-up assessment at week 10, including 35 (64.8%) in the iACT group and 33 (61.1%) in the waitlist control group. Of the 54 participants in the iACT group, all attended at least 2 sessions, and 25 attended all 28 sessions. On average, participants attended 20 (71%) sessions. The iACT group showed significant improvement in the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 total score (d=0.82, 95% CI 0.39-1.26), and the effects were sustained for 4 weeks after the intervention (d=1.08, 95% CI 0.57-1.59). Compared to the control group, the iACT group showed significantly lower scores in burnout at week 6 (d=1.42, 95% CI 0.95-1.89) and week 10 (d=1.52, 95% CI 0.98-2.06). The iACT group showed significantly higher psychological flexibility at week 6 (d=1.23, 95% CI 0.77-1.69) and week 10 (d=1.15, 95% CI 0.64-1.66).
ConclusionsThe iACT effectively decreased health care professionals’ psychological distress and burnout and improved their psychological flexibility. Our findings provide implications and guidance for the development and broad implementation of iACT in health care settings to improve the mental health of health care professionals.
Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR2400093584; https://tinyurl.com/38werwsk |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fa3640c94dd744baa8ecca2a507ec039 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-fa3640c94dd744baa8ecca2a507ec0392024-12-18T15:46:55ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712024-12-0126e5909310.2196/59093Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Reducing Psychological Distress in Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled TrialLin Zhanghttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-6951-7721Shuang Huanghttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-9819-5647Sha Liuhttps://orcid.org/0009-0005-2689-7703Yuanxiu Huanghttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-5807-7008Shan Chenhttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-0399-1851Jinsong Huhttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-0285-8767Mingzhong Xuhttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-4185-7740 BackgroundPsychological distress is prevalent among health care professionals and can lead to poor-quality patient care. Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) is a promising intervention for improving mental health due to its low cost and easy access. However, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness in reducing health care professionals’ psychological distress. ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the effects of iACT on psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression) among health care professionals in China. MethodsFrom October 2022 to February 2023, a total of 108 health care professionals were recruited via WeChat and randomized into a 6-week iACT intervention program with therapist support (n=54) or waitlist control group (n=54). The intervention included 21 self-guided sessions combining teaching videos, mindfulness practices, and journal writing, followed by 7 live conferences to share experiences and discuss questions, all conducted via WeChat. Primary outcomes (stress, anxiety, and depression) and secondary outcomes (burnout and psychological flexibility) were collected using the Sojump platform, the most popular web-based survey platform in China. Generalized estimating equations were used to compare the outcomes between groups and assess the effects of group, time, and group-by-time interaction. Subgroup and sensitive analyses were performed to test the robustness of our findings across various groups. ResultsAmong the 108 health care professionals, 68 (63%) completed the follow-up assessment at week 10, including 35 (64.8%) in the iACT group and 33 (61.1%) in the waitlist control group. Of the 54 participants in the iACT group, all attended at least 2 sessions, and 25 attended all 28 sessions. On average, participants attended 20 (71%) sessions. The iACT group showed significant improvement in the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales-21 total score (d=0.82, 95% CI 0.39-1.26), and the effects were sustained for 4 weeks after the intervention (d=1.08, 95% CI 0.57-1.59). Compared to the control group, the iACT group showed significantly lower scores in burnout at week 6 (d=1.42, 95% CI 0.95-1.89) and week 10 (d=1.52, 95% CI 0.98-2.06). The iACT group showed significantly higher psychological flexibility at week 6 (d=1.23, 95% CI 0.77-1.69) and week 10 (d=1.15, 95% CI 0.64-1.66). ConclusionsThe iACT effectively decreased health care professionals’ psychological distress and burnout and improved their psychological flexibility. Our findings provide implications and guidance for the development and broad implementation of iACT in health care settings to improve the mental health of health care professionals. Trial RegistrationChinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR2400093584; https://tinyurl.com/38werwskhttps://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e59093 |
| spellingShingle | Lin Zhang Shuang Huang Sha Liu Yuanxiu Huang Shan Chen Jinsong Hu Mingzhong Xu Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Reducing Psychological Distress in Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Reducing Psychological Distress in Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full | Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Reducing Psychological Distress in Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_fullStr | Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Reducing Psychological Distress in Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Reducing Psychological Distress in Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_short | Effectiveness of an Internet-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Intervention for Reducing Psychological Distress in Health Care Professionals: Randomized Controlled Trial |
| title_sort | effectiveness of an internet based acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for reducing psychological distress in health care professionals randomized controlled trial |
| url | https://www.jmir.org/2024/1/e59093 |
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