Effectiveness of an online mindfulness-based stress reduction program for nurses in high-stress occupational settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND

Frontline nurses face heavy infection control demands, rotating shifts, and psychological stress, leading to pandemic fatigue and reduced resilience. Evidence on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for this group remains limited.

AIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of an online MBSR program on pandemic-related fatigue and resilience among nurses in COVID-19-designated wards.

METHOD: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used. Sixty nurses were assigned to the MBSR (n = 30) or control (n = 30) groups. The six-week online program included weekly 90-min sessions. Data were collected at baseline (T1), week 3 (T2), and week 6 (T3). Seven MBSR participants also completed qualitative interviews.

RESULTS

At baseline, both groups demonstrated moderate levels of pandemic fatigue and resilience. The MBSR group showed a significant reduction in pandemic fatigue at T3 (p < 0.001) but not at T2 (p = 0.057), and significant improvements in resilience at both T2 (p < 0.001) and T3 (p < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the MBSR group exhibited significantly greater reductions in fatigue at T2 (p = 0.007) and T3 (p < 0.001), as well as greater improvements in resilience at T2 (p < 0.001) and T3 (p < 0.001). Qualitative analysis further identified four themes illustrating participants' experiences of the program.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides preliminary evidence that an online MBSR program may help alleviate pandemic fatigue and strengthen resilience among frontline nurses. Integrating digital mindfulness programs into occupational health initiatives could support nurses' mental well-being and compassionate care in high-stress clinical settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier no. NCT06433544 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06433544).