Phd in ADVANCES IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, MICROBIOLOGY, LEGAL
MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES

Thesis title: Application of a health promotion program aimed at reducing stress and burnout in healthcare workers after COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020, proclaimed a global pandemic due to the unfortunate global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), which was discovered in early 2020. All of the workers' lives and physical and mental health have been profoundly impacted by COVID-19. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) experience significant levels of workplace stress, which is linked to worsening psychological health, lower care quality, and lower patient satisfaction. A comprehensive evaluation of the evidence on the benefits of yoga and mindfulness for healthcare professionals' stress management was produced after a thorough investigation of the literature. Other research has over time shown how beneficial visual thinking techniques and forest bathing are for managing and lowering stress and burnout in healthcare professionals. Aim: To establish a clinical trial was the goal. Following multiple systematic reviews that enabled a more comprehensive investigation of the topic, a research protocol was drafted prior to the clinical trial's implementation. Through a single center, randomized controlled trial, this study aimed to examine the impact of yoga, mindfulness-based intervention and visual thinking techniques on the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs) at one hospital in Rome. This trial will adhere to the 1975 Helsinki Declaration, as updated in 2000. The participants' informed written consent will be sought. Methods: Healthcare personnel from the teaching hospital "Policlinico Umberto I" in Rome were chosen for this investigation. In several course editions, the intervention was given to the hospital's doctors, nurses, psychologists, and technicians. Under Italian law, the explicit requirement to assess work-related stress hazards was established by Legislative Decree 81/2008. It is the employer's duty to assess any risks to workers' health and safety, including those brought on by stress at work. The selected staff members will be expected to complete an RSL training course. It will take place outside of regular business hours because it is a mandatory course that enlistees must finish in order to obtain credit, although this should have no effect on enrollment or dropout rates. As a course, the intervention will meet once a week for four weeks. The three identified interventions are yoga, visual thinking strategies (VTS) and mindfulness-based intervention (MBI). Before and after the health promotion program is implemented, the levels of depression, client burnout, personal and work burnout, and work-related stress will be assessed for each of the participants. Different surveys that are given to participants at the start and finish of the courses are the primary instruments used to assess the effectiveness of the various techniques. Results: Preliminary results involve 82 HCWs (78% females; most aged 51-60 years; 48,8% nurses and 32,9% physicians). These results indicate best performances of the yoga and mindfulness courses, and good performance of the VTS in reducing work related stress, anxiety and depression, compared to the non-intervention group. Conclusion: These days, there has been a lot of interest in and significance for the research of worker well-being. The clinical research results showed that the intervention group participants' mood, emotional stability, and mental health had improved, which is particularly concerning during pandemics. The various interventions were developed with the intention of putting the participating healthcare professionals' psychological talents into practice. In order to enhance employee well-being, employers in the health sector want to think about introducing workplace wellness programs that incorporate these strategies. Effective interventions that can assist enhance the psychological functioning of healthcare workers include yoga, MBI, VTS, and FB. Keywords: healthcare workers, stress, burnout, well-being, public health.