Fifty-seven level I trauma center nurses/physicians participated in a 4-day intervention to learn relaxed alertness using mindfulness-based instructions and EEG neurofeedback. Neurofeedback was provided by a Bispectral IndexTM (BIS) system that continuously displays a BIS value (0–100) on the monitor screen. Reductions in the BIS value indicate that power in a high-frequency band (30–47 Hz) is decreased and power in an intermediate band (11–20 Hz) is increased. A wellbeing tool with four positive affect and seven negative affect items based on a 5-category Likert scale was used. The wellbeing score is the sum of the positive affect items (positive affect score) and the reverse-scored negative affect items (non-stress score). Of functional concern were four negative affect items rated as moderately, quite a bit, or extremely in a large percent. Of greater concern were all four positive affect items rated as very slightly or none at all, a little, or moderately in over half of the participants. Mean and nadir BIS values were markedly decreased during neurofeedback when compared to baseline values. Post-session relaxation scores were higher than pre-session relaxation scores. Post-session relaxation scores had an inverse relationship with mean and nadir BIS values. Mean and nadir BIS values were inversely associated with NFB cognitive states (i.e., widening the visual field, decreasing effort, attention to space, and relaxed alertness). For all participants, the wellbeing score was higher on day 4 than on day 1. Participants had a higher wellbeing score on day 4 than a larger group of nurses/physicians who did not participate in the BIS neurofeedback trial. Eighty percent of participants demonstrated an improvement in the positive affect or non-stress score on day 4, when compared to day 1; the wellbeing, non-stress, and positive affect scores were substantially higher on day 4 than on day 1. Additionally, for that 80% of participants, the improvements in wellbeing and non-stress were associated with reductions in day 3 BIS values. These findings indicate that trauma center nurses/physicians participating in an EEG neurofeedback trial with mindfulness instructions had improvements in wellbeing.Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03152331. Registered May 15, 2017.

Background Physicians and nurses have substantial problems with wellbeing and burnout. We examined the reliability and construct validity of a wellbeing inventory (WBI) administered to some physicians and nurses working in St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital (SEYH). Methods The SEYH-WBI, consisting of 4 positive affect (PA) items and 7 negative affect (NA) items developed from 5 validated surveys, was administered ( n = 419). A non-burnout inventory (SEYH-NBI) consisting of 2 PA items and 3 NA items was derived from the SEYH-WBI. The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), a validated survey consisting of 10 PA items and 10 NA items, was conducted ( n = 191). The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), a validated survey consisting of 3 domains (3 items each), was completed ( n = 150). Results For the SEYH-WBI, Cronbach coefficients were 0.76 for PA items and 0.83 for NA items. The NA item loading on factor 1 was 0.55–0.84 and the PA item loading on factor 2 was 0.47–0.89. Confirmatory indices were as follows: root mean square residual, 0.07 and Bentler Comparative Fit Index, 0.92. For the SEYH-NBI, Cronbach coefficients were 0.76 for PA items and 0.79 for NA items. The NA item loading on factor 1 was 0.80–0.87 and the PA item loading on factor 2 was 0.89–0.90. Confirmatory indices were as follows: root mean square residual, 0.02; and Bentler Comparative Fit Index, 0.99. PANAS correlations were as follows: SEYH-WBI PA and PANAS PA scores, r = 0.9; p <  0.0001; SEYH-WBI NA and PANAS NA scores, r = 0.9; p <  0.0001; SEYH-NBI PA and PANAS PA scores, r = 0.8; p <  0.0001; and SEYH-NBI NA and PANAS NA scores, r = 0.7; p <  0.0001. Correlations for SEYH-NBI and MBI were as follows: total NBI and total MBI, r = − 0.6, p <  0.0001; NA and emotional exhaustion, r = 0.6, p <  0.0001; PA and personal accomplishment, r = 0.3, p = 0.0003; and NA and depersonalization, r = 0.3, p = 0.0008. Conclusions Validation assessments indicate that the SEYH-WBI and SEYH-NBI have acceptable psychometric performance. Similar findings in a larger cohort would be more compelling.

ObjectiveBecause physicians and nurses are commonly stressed, Bispectral Index™ (BIS) neurofeedback, following trainer instructions, was used to learn to lower the electroencephalography-derived BIS value, indicating that a state of receptive awareness (relaxed alertness) had been achieved.ResultsTen physicians/nurses participated in 21 learning days with 9 undergoing ≤ 3 days. The BIS-nadir for the 21 days was decreased (88.7) compared to baseline (97.0; p < 0.01). From 21 wellbeing surveys, moderately-to-extremely rated stress responses were a feeling of irritation 38.1%; nervousness 14.3%; over-reacting 28.6%; tension 66.7%; being overwhelmed 38.1%; being drained 38.1%; and people being too demanding 52.4% (57.1% had ≥ 2 stress indicators). Quite a bit-to-extremely rated positive-affect responses were restful sleep 28.6%; energetic 0%; and alert 47.6% (90.5% had ≥ 2 positive-affect responses rated as slightly-to-moderately). For 1 subject who underwent 4 learning days, mean BIS was lower on day 4 (95.1) than on day 1 (96.8; p < 0.01). The wellbeing score increased 23.3% on day 4 (37) compared to day 1 (30). Changes in BIS values provide evidence that brainwave self-regulation can be learned and may manifest with wellbeing. These findings suggest that stress and impairments in positive-affect are common in physicians/nurses.Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03152331. Registered May 15, 2017Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-018-3756-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ObjectiveTo determine whether Bispectral Index™ values obtained during flotation-restricted environment stimulation technique have a similar profile in a single observation compared to literature-derived results found during sleep and other relaxation-induction interventions.ResultsBispectral Index™ values were as follows: awake-state, 96.6; float session-1, 84.3; float session-2, 82.3; relaxation-induction, 82.8; stage I sleep, 86.0; stage II sleep, 66.2; and stages III–IV sleep, 45.1. Awake-state values differed from float session-1 (%difference 12.7%; Cohen’s d = 3.6) and float session-2 (%difference 14.8%; Cohen’s d = 4.6). Relaxation-induction values were similar to float session-1 (%difference 1.8%; Cohen’s d = 0.3) and float session-2 (%difference 0.5%; Cohen’s d = 0.1). Stage I sleep values were similar to float session-1 (%difference 1.9%; Cohen’s d = 0.4) and float session-2 (%difference 4.3%; Cohen’s d = 1.0). Stage II sleep values differed from float session-1 (%difference 21.5%; Cohen’s d = 4.3) and float session-2 (%difference 19.6%; Cohen’s d = 4.0). Stages III–IV sleep values differed from float session-1 (%difference 46.5%; Cohen’s d = 5.6) and float session-2 (%difference 45.2%; Cohen’s d = 5.4). Bispectral Index™ values during flotation were comparable to those found in stage I sleep and nadir values described with other relaxation-induction techniques.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-017-2947-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.