Strengthening Psycho-physiological and Psycho-emotional Competencies in Healthcare Workers Through Mind Body Medicine and Nutrition: A Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a workplace health program designed to improve stress resilience and mental well-being among healthcare workers at University Medicine Essen. This study uses a participatory research approach, involving hospital staff in planning and needs assessment through focus groups and pilot testing. The program addresses the challenges of increasing stress, staff shortages, and high sick leave rates, aiming to create a sustainable health management model that could be applied in other healthcare settings. The intervention is a 10-week multimodal program called the SOULFOOD Programme, which combines mind-body medicine techniques, complementary self-care strategies from Traditional European and Indian Medicine, and psycho-biotic nutrition focused on gut health and mental well-being. Participants attend weekly in-person sessions lasting two hours, with homework activities and flexible scheduling to fit their work. The program covers topics like mindful eating, emotional regulation, mindfulness, communication skills, and social connections. A waitlist control group will receive the same program after a 26-week waiting period. Participants will be assessed on stress resilience, burnout, stress coping, stress symptoms, physical resilience, mental well-being, psychological distress, and health behavior changes at weeks 10 and 26. Researchers will monitor adverse events from enrollment through week 10. The study includes a steering committee and ongoing feedback to ensure the program meets employee needs and supports workplace improvements. Total participation involves the 10-week program and follow-up assessments up to 26 weeks.

Strengthening Health Literacy in Healthcare Workers Through Mind Body Medicine and Nutrition