Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment-Based Therapy (ACT) and Meta-Diagnostic Therapy in Reducing Emotional Problems in Nurses

Nurses are among the people who have a close relationship with people, take responsibility for human health and life, and face patients and incurable diseases. Hence, they are constantly experiencing severe stress. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and meta-diagnostic therapy in reducing emotional problems in nurses working in the Social Security Organization in Kermanshah.

The research method was a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test with a control group. The statistical population of this study includes all nurses working in social security hospitals in Kermanshah. The sampling method is purposeful sampling. Among the nurses working in social security hospitals in Kermanshah, 45 people were admitted as a sample by considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria and with the initial test by the researcher and were divided into 3 groups of 15 people including 2 experimental groups and a control group. 8 sessions of 1.5-hour meta-diagnostic therapies were presented to experimental group 1 and 8 sessions of couple therapy training based on acceptance and commitment therapy 1.5 hours were presented to experimental group 2. The DASS 21 scale was used to collect data.

In general, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is effective in reducing emotional problems among nurses at a significant level (p <0.05). Also, meta-diagnostic treatment has a positive effect on reducing emotional problems and increasing life satisfaction at a significant level (p <0.05). The results for another research hypothesis showed that meta-diagnostic treatment has a significant effect (p <0.05) on reducing emotional problems among nurses compared to acceptance and commitment based therapy.

Paying attention to emotional problems and life satisfaction factors in nurses is very important for individual health and general health of the community.