Stress Related Nurse Study
Conditions
Keywords
nurse study
Brief summary
In response to the concerning decline in nursing students' mental health, innovative measures were piloted in several nursing schools (IFSI) in 2024. Notably, a pilot program by the \*Mutuelle Nationale des Hospitaliers\* (MNH) was launched to address rising dropout rates, the increase in anxiety and depressive disorders, and the finding that nearly 25% of these young people have experienced suicidal thoughts. In this context, "Potential Optimization Techniques" (TOP) emerge as a promising avenue for intervention. Developed in the 1990s within the French military by Dr. Édith Perreaut-Pierre to meet the demands of operational stress, TOPs comprise a structured set of psycho-cognitive and behavioral strategies designed to optimize physical, mental, and emotional resources according to the requirements of the task at hand. They have proven effective in stress management, fatigue prevention, and the improvement of concentration and recovery, as well as in mobilizing the motivational and emotional resources needed for sustained performance (Perreaut-Pierre, 2024). Their pragmatic, adaptable, and self-directed nature makes them a potentially valuable tool for healthcare students, who also face demanding environments. TOPs could thus address the current concerns of nursing schools and the requirements of the 2026 reform by enabling students to develop emotional agility, autonomy in stress management, and a sense of agency in the face of training challenges. These anticipated benefits align with institutional goals aimed at reducing stress, fatigue, and academic dropout rates, while fostering well-being and performance within the healthcare professions.
Interventions
OTHERTOP INTERVENTION GROUP
Participants received a four-hour theoretical session on stress, fatigue, motivation, and the Principles of Potential Optimization Techniques (TOP). In addition, participants attended six practical TOP training sessions delivered over a 10-month period in small groups. During the third year of nursing education, participants took part in a healthcare simulation exercise integrating the skills and techniques learned through the TOP program.
OTHERTOP CONTROL GROUP
Participants received the same four-hour theoretical session on stress, fatigue, motivation, and the principles of Potential Optimization Techniques (TOP). However, they did not participate in any practical TOP training sessions. During the third year of nursing education, participants completed the same healthcare simulation exercise using their own personal coping resources without TOP training.
Sponsors
Hospices Civils de Lyon
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
\- The participants in this study are nursing students enrolled in the 2025-2028 cohorts at the Esquirol and Clémenceau Nursing Training Institutes (IFSI), affiliated with the Hospices Civils de Lyon.
Exclusion criteria
* Current history of severe neuropsychiatric conditions (severe depressive disorder, severe anxiety disorder)-self-reported-or uncontrolled acute psychiatric symptoms during the study (severe anxiety, severe behavioral disturbances). * This criterion is incompatible with a pedagogical method like TOP, which falls outside the scope of psychology. The teaching skills involved in TOP do not enable the management of psychological disorders. However, they may complement psychological care within the context of these
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| General Self-Efficacy Score (GSE) | Baseline to 24 months | Change in General Self-Efficacy score between baseline (T0) and 24 months (T3), comparing the intervention and control groups using the General Self-Efficacy Scale developed by Schwarzer and Jerusalem. |
Outcome results
None listed