Work Engagement and Well-being Study (SWELL): a randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the effects of mindfulness versus light physical exercise at work
Background Mindfulness-based programmes (MBPs) are increasingly offered at work, often in online self-guided format. However, the evidence on MBPs’ effect on work performance (WP) is inconsistent.Objective This pragmatic randomised controlled feasibility trial assessed procedural uncertainties, inte...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMJ Mental Health |
| Online Access: | https://ebmh.bmj.com/content/27/1/e300885.full |
| _version_ | 1797291907556048896 |
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| author | Caitlin Hitchcock Tim Dalgleish Peter Watson Julieta Galante Maris Vainre Quentin Dercon Christina Haag |
| author_facet | Caitlin Hitchcock Tim Dalgleish Peter Watson Julieta Galante Maris Vainre Quentin Dercon Christina Haag |
| author_sort | Caitlin Hitchcock |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background Mindfulness-based programmes (MBPs) are increasingly offered at work, often in online self-guided format. However, the evidence on MBPs’ effect on work performance (WP) is inconsistent.Objective This pragmatic randomised controlled feasibility trial assessed procedural uncertainties, intervention acceptability and preliminary effect sizes of an MBP on WP, relative to an alternative intervention.Methods 241 employees from eight employers were randomised (1:1) to complete a 4-week, self-guided, online MBP or a light physical exercise programme (LE)(active control). Feasibility and acceptability measures were of primary interest. WP at postintervention (PostInt) was the primary outcome for preliminary assessment of effect sizes. Secondary outcomes assessed mental health (MH) and cognitive processes hypothesised to be targeted by the MBP. Outcomes were collected at baseline, PostInt and 12-week follow-up (12wFUP). Prospective trial protocol: NCT04631302.Findings 87% of randomised participants started the course. Courses had high acceptability. Retention rates were typical for online trials (64% PostInt; 30% 12wFUP). MBP, compared with the LE control, offered negligible benefits for WP (PostInt (d=0.06, 95% CI −0.19 to 0.32); 12wFUP (d=0.02, 95% CI −0.30 to 0.26)). Both interventions improved MH outcomes (ds=−0.40 to 0.58, 95% CI −0.32 to 0.18); between-group differences were small (ds=−0.09 to 0.04, 95% CI −0.15 to 0.17).Conclusion The trial is feasible; interventions are acceptable. Results provide little support for a later phase trial comparing an MBP to a light exercise control. To inform future trials, we summarise procedural challenges.Clinical implications Results suggest MBPs are unlikely to improve WP relative to light physical exercise. Although the MBP improved MH, other active interventions may be just as efficacious.Trial registration number NCT04631302. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:44:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90e04b84708e49e8af93b710f8de3a46 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2755-9734 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:44:33Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-90e04b84708e49e8af93b710f8de3a462024-02-29T03:50:09ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Mental Health2755-97342024-02-0127110.1136/bmjment-2023-300885Work Engagement and Well-being Study (SWELL): a randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the effects of mindfulness versus light physical exercise at workCaitlin Hitchcock0Tim Dalgleish1Peter Watson2Julieta Galante3Maris Vainre4Quentin Dercon5Christina Haag61 Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK7 Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK1 Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UKMRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK1MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of CambridgeInstitute for Implementation Science in Health Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandBackground Mindfulness-based programmes (MBPs) are increasingly offered at work, often in online self-guided format. However, the evidence on MBPs’ effect on work performance (WP) is inconsistent.Objective This pragmatic randomised controlled feasibility trial assessed procedural uncertainties, intervention acceptability and preliminary effect sizes of an MBP on WP, relative to an alternative intervention.Methods 241 employees from eight employers were randomised (1:1) to complete a 4-week, self-guided, online MBP or a light physical exercise programme (LE)(active control). Feasibility and acceptability measures were of primary interest. WP at postintervention (PostInt) was the primary outcome for preliminary assessment of effect sizes. Secondary outcomes assessed mental health (MH) and cognitive processes hypothesised to be targeted by the MBP. Outcomes were collected at baseline, PostInt and 12-week follow-up (12wFUP). Prospective trial protocol: NCT04631302.Findings 87% of randomised participants started the course. Courses had high acceptability. Retention rates were typical for online trials (64% PostInt; 30% 12wFUP). MBP, compared with the LE control, offered negligible benefits for WP (PostInt (d=0.06, 95% CI −0.19 to 0.32); 12wFUP (d=0.02, 95% CI −0.30 to 0.26)). Both interventions improved MH outcomes (ds=−0.40 to 0.58, 95% CI −0.32 to 0.18); between-group differences were small (ds=−0.09 to 0.04, 95% CI −0.15 to 0.17).Conclusion The trial is feasible; interventions are acceptable. Results provide little support for a later phase trial comparing an MBP to a light exercise control. To inform future trials, we summarise procedural challenges.Clinical implications Results suggest MBPs are unlikely to improve WP relative to light physical exercise. Although the MBP improved MH, other active interventions may be just as efficacious.Trial registration number NCT04631302.https://ebmh.bmj.com/content/27/1/e300885.full |
| spellingShingle | Caitlin Hitchcock Tim Dalgleish Peter Watson Julieta Galante Maris Vainre Quentin Dercon Christina Haag Work Engagement and Well-being Study (SWELL): a randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the effects of mindfulness versus light physical exercise at work BMJ Mental Health |
| title | Work Engagement and Well-being Study (SWELL): a randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the effects of mindfulness versus light physical exercise at work |
| title_full | Work Engagement and Well-being Study (SWELL): a randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the effects of mindfulness versus light physical exercise at work |
| title_fullStr | Work Engagement and Well-being Study (SWELL): a randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the effects of mindfulness versus light physical exercise at work |
| title_full_unstemmed | Work Engagement and Well-being Study (SWELL): a randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the effects of mindfulness versus light physical exercise at work |
| title_short | Work Engagement and Well-being Study (SWELL): a randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the effects of mindfulness versus light physical exercise at work |
| title_sort | work engagement and well being study swell a randomised controlled feasibility trial evaluating the effects of mindfulness versus light physical exercise at work |
| url | https://ebmh.bmj.com/content/27/1/e300885.full |
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