Bowling Green

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of an Eastern Principles Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (EPACT) intervention compared to a traditional Western Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention and a no-treatment control group. This study focuses on nurses and nursing aides (NNAs) working in long-term care settings in the USA and healthcare settings in Thailand. The study aims to reduce work-related injuries, burnout, psychological distress, and musculoskeletal symptoms while improving well-being and heart rate variability. It also seeks to understand predictors of treatment response and assess the cultural feasibility of EPACT across different settings. Participants in Ohio will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: EPACT NNA, ACT NNA, or no treatment control, with 80 individuals in each group. Both EPACT and ACT interventions are delivered in group formats of 5-10 participants, consisting of two 2.5-hour sessions spaced one week apart. The EPACT intervention integrates Eastern mindfulness elements such as acceptance of suffering, compassion, impermanence, and non-self-attachment, while the ACT intervention includes six core Western mindfulness processes. Participants in the control group receive no in-person intervention but complete the same assessments. Throughout the study, participants complete questionnaires on demographics, organizational factors, work injuries, stress, burnout, compassion, mindfulness, and well-being at baseline, one month, and three months. Heart rate variability is measured at baseline. The study also monitors exposure to violence and musculoskeletal symptoms. Follow-up surveys are completed online, and the control group receives text and email communications. This comprehensive approach allows researchers to assess the impact and durability of the interventions over a three-month period.