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RECHARGE: A Brief Psychological Intervention to Build Resilience in Healthcare Workers During COVID-19

Not Applicable
Conditions
Covid19
Stress
Burnout
Anxiety
Depression
Interventions
Behavioral: RECHARGE
Behavioral: Self Study
Registration Number
NCT04531774
Lead Sponsor
Naser Morina
Brief Summary

The healthcare industry is inherently demanding, stressful, and, at times, emotionally draining. On a typical day, many workers must make rapid and critical decisions, manage numerous demands, team conflicts, and challenging situations with patients and their families. For some health care workers (HCW), the current pandemic - COVID-19 - has also exacerbated these challenges. Providing psychological support is key in alleviating stress among HCWs, yet the situation does not require therapy because HCWs do not principally suffer from a mental disorder. RECHARGE was specifically developed for HCWs and is an abbreviated online version of Problem Management Plus, an evidence-based intervention that helps to cope with stress in times of crisis. As a brief psychological intervention for adults affected by adversity emerging from stress exposure, RECHARGE teaches people three well-documented strategies to manage acute stress (a: managing stress, b: managing worry, c: meaningful activity). It includes psychoeducation, arousal reduction techniques, managing worries and problem-solving skills, behavioral activation, and enhancement of meaningful activities, which are all based on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of RECHARGE to reduce stress in HCWs and enhance their work performance. Participants in this randomized controlled trial (RCT) study are randomly assigned to either RECHARGE or the active control group. To this end, stress including symptoms of burnout, worries, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and work performance will be measured at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 2 and 6 month follow up.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
160
Inclusion Criteria
  • Anxiety and depression checklist (K10) score of 16 or higher
  • Healthcare worker
  • Sufficient German language comprehension
  • Access to teleconferencing platform
Exclusion Criteria
  • Currently participating in a similar study
  • Currently in psychotherapeutic treatment / coaching
  • Currently on sick leave for more than 2 weeks

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
RECHARGERECHARGE4 1-hour sessions of RECHARGE are delivered online using Skype for Business within 2 weeks.
Online self-study of stress management strategiesSelf StudySelf study during 2 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from Baseline in psychological distress Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) at Week 5 and Week 13Baseline (Week 1), post-intervention (Week 5) and 2 month follow-up (Week 13)

HCWs in the intervention condition (RECHARGE) demonstrate a lower level of distress after the intervention and at 2-month follow-up than HCWs in the active control condition.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fewer worries in intervention group than in active control grouppost-intervention (Week 5) and 2 month follow-up (Week 13)

HCWs in the intervention condition demonstrate fewer worries after the intervention and at 2-month follow-up than HCWs in the active control condition.

Worries are measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7)

Less anxiety symptoms in intervention group than in active control grouppost-intervention (Week 5) and 2 month follow-up (Week 13)

HCWs in the intervention condition demonstrate less anxiety after the intervention and at 2-month follow-up than HCWs in the active control condition.

Anxiety is measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Fewer depression symptoms in intervention group than in active control grouppost-intervention (Week 5) and 2 month follow-up (Week 13)

HCWs in the intervention condition demonstrate fewer symptoms of depression after the intervention and at 2-month follow-up than HCWs in the active control condition.

Depression is measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Lower level of burnout in intervention group than in active control grouppost-intervention (Week 5) and 2 month follow-up (Week 13)

HCWs in the intervention condition demonstrate a lower level of burnout after the intervention and at 2-month follow-up than HCWs in the active control condition. Burnout is measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI).

Less traumatic stress in intervention group than in active control grouppost-intervention (Week 5) and 2 month follow-up (Week 13)

HCWs in the intervention condition demonstrate less traumatic stress after the intervention and at 2-month follow-up than HCWs in the active control condition.

Traumatic stress is measured using the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5).

Lower level of distress due to perceived moral injury in intervention group than in active control grouppost-intervention (Week 5) and 2 month follow-up (Week 13)

HCWs in the intervention condition demonstrate a lower level of distress due to perceived moral injury after the intervention and at 2-month follow-up than HCWs in the active control condition. Distress due to perceived moral injury is measured using Moral Injury Appraisals (MI).

Higher work performance in intervention group than in active control grouppost-intervention (Week 5) and 2 month follow-up (Week 13)

HCWs in the intervention condition demonstrate a higher work performance after the intervention and at 2-month follow-up than HCWs in the active control condition. Work performance is measured using the Work Ability Index (WAI).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Klinik für Konsiliarpsychiatrie und Psychosomatik

🇨🇭

Zürich, Switzerland

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