The effect of conscious mindfulness-based program (MBP) applied to emergency nurses on their anxiety and quality of life: A randomized controlled study

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to examine the effect of a mindfulness-based program applied to nurses working in the emergency department on their anxiety and professional quality of life.
METHODS: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled experimental study with 50 nurses working in the emergency department. Data were collected with a sociodemographic information form, state-trait anxiety ınventory (STAI), and quality of life scale for employees (ProQOL-30). Mindfulness-Based Program (FTP), which lasted for 8 weeks and was an application of 2.5 h/week, was applied to the experimental group. A pre-test before the application and a post-test after the application (1 week after the application was completed) were administered to the experimental and control groups. In evaluating the data, number, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Kurtosis, Skewness, Chi-Square, and Fisher’s exact tests were used.
RESULTS: It was found that the STAI state and trait anxiety pre-test mean scores of emergency nurses were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups (p>0.05), but the STAI state anxiety post-test mean score was significantly lower in the experimental group (t=-3.527, p=0.01). In addition, no significant difference was detected between the ProQOL-30 scale general and all subscale pre-test scores of the experimental and control groups (p>0.05). In addition, while there was no significant difference between the ProQOL-30 scale general and sub-dimension pre-test and post-test scores of the control group (p>0.05), it was found that the ProQOL-30 general score average increased significantly after the application (t=-2.113).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the mindfulness-based program is a program that reduces the anxiety levels of emergency room nurses and increases their work-life satisfaction levels.