Health care workers (HCWs) experience astonishing rates of burnout, anxiety, and depression. Recent research indicates that stressful and unpredictable workplace conditions lead to perceived poor health, increased vulnerability to medical illness, and increased mortality. In addition to the impact on HCWs, workplace demands can affect patient care, with reductions in the quality of care, communication, productivity, and efficiency. With such widespread effects, intervening to decrease stress among HCWs is imperative to boost the overall vitality of the healthcare system.
Under the leadership of Elyse Park, PhD the SMART-3RP “is designed to help participants regain control and build resilience through a variety of mind-body principles and self care interventions.
More Information About the SMART-3RP
At Mass General Hospital, the SMART-3RP (Stress Management and Resiliency Training – Relaxation Response Program) is offered to help patients regain control and build resilience through a variety of mind-body principles and self-care interventions. This program, available through the Benson-Henry Institute, is beneficial for individuals experiencing anxiety-related symptoms, depression, fatigue, insomnia, headaches, autoimmune disorders, chronic pain, gastrointestinal disorders, skin problems, and asthma.
The SMART-3RP program consists of three individual appointments and eight weekly two-hour group sessions. During the course of the intervention, participants will:
- Understand the association between stress and physical or emotional problems.
- Learn techniques to engage the relaxation response.
- Appreciate the role of positive thoughts.
- Understand the importance of healthy lifestyle habits.
For those interested in participating, more information can be found at The Benson-Henry Institute.
SMART-3RP to Improve Resilience Among HCWs
Researchers from the Health Promotion and Resiliency Intervention Research (HPRIR) Center are interested in determining whether SMART-3RP or similar interventions may be helpful in managing some of the symptoms of stress and burnout emerging in the day-to-day lives of health care providers. In a recent study, Clinical Research Coordinator, Natalie Durieux, has illuminated how the SMART-3RPcould benefit health care workers. Data from this study was presented at the MGB Clinical Research Day, and her poster entitled, Resiliency among Mass General Brigham Hospital Employees Post-COVID-19 Pandemic, received an award from the Department of Psychiatry, highlighting the importance of this topic and the need for future research in this area.
Following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Boston, psychologists Elyse Park, PhD and Christina Luberto, PhD in coordination with the Benson Henry Institute, administered the SMART-3RP to MGB employees. Throughout the program, participants’ mental health was assessed to measure the effect of the SMART-3RP on stress and resiliency over time. The data was later analyzed to answer the question, “How do MGB employees change in measures of resilience, stress, positive affect, depression, and anxiety during treatment with SMART-3RP”?
After comparing participants pre- and post-SMART-3RP, employees’ mental health improved across all measures. More specifically, resiliency, coping, and positive emotion increased, while stress, anxiety, and depression decreased.
Addressing Burnout Among Healthcare Providers
While the acute crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic may be behind us, health care providers continue to report high levels of stress and burnout. The study described above suggests that a relatively simple and time-limited intervention can meaningfully improve resiliency among health care providers.
Mass General Brigham employees participating in the SMART-3RP program experienced significant improvements in resiliency, stress coping, positive affect, and reductions in perceived stress, anxiety, and depression.. These findings suggest that such interventions are beneficial for improving HCWs’ mental health and stress management skills. The study underscores the importance of addressing structural issues that contribute to burnout and promoting a culture that supports HCWs’ well-being. Future research should explore how these interventions can be optimized for broader populations and how they might mitigate the long-term effects of stress on HCWs.
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