Randomised controlled trials of interventions to improve NHS staff stress and wellbeing

Randomised controlled trials of mindfulness-based and cognitive behavioural therapy-based (CBT-based) courses to improve NHS staff stress and wellbeing with participant preference

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN11723441

Enrollment

1600

Registered

2017-06-16

Start date

2017-07-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2023-07-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Stress and wellbeing Mental and Behavioural Disorders Stress and wellbeing

Interventions

Participants will be given a choice between two interventions: Intervention 1: Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). This is an 9-week group intervention (including an orientation session

intervention arm), or at a later time (in 6 months’ time or later

waitlist arm), in a ratio of 1:1. Block randomisation, with researchers blind to block size, will be conducted. Participants randomised to start their preferred intervention in the immediate future w

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Employed by (or working in an honorary/voluntary capacity for) Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey and Borders NHS Foundation Trust, Kent and Medway Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, or Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust 2. Currently in work (i.e. not currently on sick leave) 3. Have sufficient English language ability to understand intervention information and questionnaire content 4. Aged 18+ years

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: There are no exclusion criteria

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Stress is measured using the stress sub-scale from the short version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) at baseline, post-intervention, and six months follow-up.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
1. Depression is measured using the depression subscale from the short version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) 2. Anxiety is measured using the anxiety subscale from the short version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) 3. Compassion is measured using the Compassion Scale 4. Wellbeing is measured using the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale 5. Burnout is measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey 6. Mindfulness is measured using the 15-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) 7. Sickness absence. This will be the number of sickness absence days taken in the three months following the intervention period (e.g., the three months following the end of the intervention for intervention participants). Equivalent data from the same three-month period in the previous calendar year will be obtained as a baseline measure for each participant. Participants will also be asked to self-report sickness absence in the past three months at all time points. 8. Presenteeism is measured using items from the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire All outcome measures, with the exception of objective sickness absence data which are requested at the end of the study, will be administered at baseline and post-intervention to all participants and additionally at six-month follow-up for intervention participants. The FFMQ will be administered to participants randomised to MBCT or waiting list for MBCT only. Demographic data (e.g., gender, age, ethnicity, marital status, education level) will be recorded at baseline only and engagement measures (e.g., number of days/week using the preferred intervention) will be administered at post-intervention and follow-up only, for those randomised to the intervention arms.	—

Measure

Time frame

1. Depression is measured using the depression subscale from the short version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) 2. Anxiety is measured using the anxiety subscale from the short version of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) 3. Compassion is measured using the Compassion Scale 4. Wellbeing is measured using the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale 5. Burnout is measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey 6. Mindfulness is measured using the 15-item Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) 7. Sickness absence. This will be the number of sickness absence days taken in the three months following the intervention period (e.g., the three months following the end of the intervention for intervention participants). Equivalent data from the same three-month period in the previous calendar year will be obtained as a baseline measure for each participant. Participants will also be asked to self-report sickness absence in the past three months at all time points. 8. Presenteeism is measured using items from the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire All outcome measures, with the exception of objective sickness absence data which are requested at the end of the study, will be administered at baseline and post-intervention to all participants and additionally at six-month follow-up for intervention participants. The FFMQ will be administered to participants randomised to MBCT or waiting list for MBCT only. Demographic data (e.g., gender, age, ethnicity, marital status, education level) will be recorded at baseline only and engagement measures (e.g., number of days/week using the preferred intervention) will be administered at post-intervention and follow-up only, for those randomised to the intervention arms.

—

Countries

England, United Kingdom

Contacts

Public ContactJenny Gu

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 24, 2026