Investigation of wellbeing interventions in NHS staff

INTERVENTION: Participants are allocated to one of two unguided online wellbeing interventions, using block randomisation within the survey platform, Qualtrics. Participants in the experimental arm are given access to Headspace which is a mindfulness app and website. Headspace can be viewed via either smartphone app (Apple or Android) or website and offers participants psychoeducation and guided mindfulness meditation practices. Participants in the active‐control arm are directed to Moodzone which is a NHS website for helping people to deal with work‐related stress. Moodzone is delivered via a NHS webpage and offers advice and exercises designed to help manage work‐related stress. Participants in both arms are asked to engage with the exercises suggested within their given intervention for a minimum of ten minutes per day for the initial 30‐days of the study, and are encouraged to continue to engage with their given intervention for a follow‐up period of 120‐days. Objective and subjective measures of engagement are measured at follow up. Also, meditation and moderation analysis conducted in order to establish the processes and factors influencing mindfulness‐based self‐help (MBSH) engagement and outcomes. CONDITION: Specialty: Mental Health, Primary sub‐specialty: Anxiety ‐ stress; UKCRC code/ Disease: Mental Health/ Neurotic, stress‐related and somatoform disorders ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders ; Stress, anxiety and depression PRIMARY OUTCOME: Stress is measured using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS – 21; Lovibond & Lovinbond, 1995) at baseline and 125 days. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Aged 18 years or older 2. Currently employed by an NHS trust in Kent, Surrey or Sussex 3. Work in a role that involves direct contact with patients for at least one day per week . 4. Currently in work (i.e. are not on long term sickness absence) 5. Not currently undertaking and/ or are willing to refrain from engaging in any other psychological intervention during the 125‐day course of the study 6. Self‐reported sufficient English language ability to read and listen to the MBSH intervention materials 7. Regular personal access to an Apple or Android smartphone/ tablet or to a computer with internet access SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Depression is measured using the DASS‐21 at baseline, day 35 and 125; 2. Anxiety is measured using the DASS‐21 at baseline, day 35 and 125; 3. Mindfulness is measured using the Five‐Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire – Fifteen Items (FFMQ‐15; Baer et al., 2008; Gu et al., 2016) at baseline, day 35 and 125; 4. Self‐compassion is measured using the Self‐Compassion Scale – Short Form (SCS‐SF; Raes, Pommier, Neff, & Gucht, 2011) at baseline, day 35 and 125; 5. Well‐being is measured using the Short Warwick‐Edinburgh Mental Well‐being Scale (SWEMWS; NHS Health Scotland, University of Warwick & University of Edinburgh, 2007) at baseline, day 35 and 125; 6. Burn‐out is measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI; Maslach & Jackson, 1986) at baseline, day 35 and 125; 7. Compassion‐for‐others is measured using the Compassionate Love For Humanity Scale (CLS; Sprecher, & Fehr, 2005) at baseline, day 35 and 125; 8. Rumination is measured using the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS; Nolen‐Hoeksema & Morro, 1991; Treynor, Gonzalez, & Nolen‐Hoeksema, 2003) at baseline, day 35 and 125; 9. Worry is measured using the Penn State Worry Questionarre (PSWQ; Mayer, Miller, Metzger, & Borkovek, 1990) at baseline, day 35 and 125 ; 10. Sickness absence concerning the 3 months prior to the intervention, and the 3 months following the initial 30‐day intervention period is measured using a non‐validated questionnaire at baseline and 125‐days, and where consent has been obtained, via objective sickness absence data provided by NHS Human Resources departments, after trial completion.; 11. Adherence to and engagement with both interventions is measured using non‐validated questionnaires and objective usage data provided by Headspace for participants assigned to the Headspace condition, at day 35 and 125; 12. Beliefs about engaging with Headspace is measured using a non‐validated questionnaire at baseline and 35 days; 13. Expectations of Headspace and Moodzone is measured using non‐validated questionnaires at baseline; 14. A control variable of prior mindfulness experience is measured using a non‐validated questionnaire at 125‐days ; 15. Stress (as a secondary outcome when measured at these timepoints) is measured using the DASS‐21 at baseline and day 35