Effect of a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Program on Occupational Stress and Sleep Quality of Nurses

 One of the serious concerns in the nursing profession is occupational stress which is a major risk factor for nurses’ poor sleep quality. This study aims to determine the effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on occupational stress and sleep quality of nurses.

 This is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test design that was conducted in 2020 on 78 nurses working in a hospital affiliated to Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. They were divided into intervention group (n=38) and control group (40) using a random sampling method. For the intervention group, the MBSR program was provided at eight sessions, while no intervention was performed in the control group. Before and after the intervention, Nursing Stress Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were completed by both groups. Data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 20 using descriptive and inferential statistics (T test, chi-square test).

 The mean age of participants was 35±6 years. The majority of them had a bachelor’s degree in nursing, were married and female with a rotating work shift. There was a significant difference in the mean stress scores after the intervention between the two groups (P<0.001), but there was no significant difference in the sleep quality scores between the two groups after the intervention (P=0.086), although the sleep quality scores in the intervention group were higher than in the control group.

 Considering the significant effect of MBSR program on nurses’ stress, it is recommended to include it in their educational programs.