Physical relaxation for occupational stress in healthcare workers: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Objectives Work related stress is a major occupational health problem that is associated with adverse effects on physical and mental health. Healthcare workers are particularly vulnerable in the era of COVID‐19. Physical methods of stress relief such as yoga and massage therapy may reduce occupational stress. The objective of this systematic review and network meta‐analysis is to determine the effects of yoga, massage therapy, progressive muscle relaxation, and stretching on alleviating stress and improving physical and mental health in healthcare workers. Methods Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials on the use of physical relaxation methods for occupational stress in healthcare workers with any duration of follow‐up. Meta‐analysis was performed for standard mean differences in stress measures from baseline between subjects undergoing relaxation vs non‐intervention controls. Network meta‐analysis was conducted to determine the best relaxation method. Results Fifteen trials representing 688 healthcare workers were identified. Random‐effects meta‐analysis shows that physical relaxation methods overall reduced measures of occupational stress at the longest duration of follow‐up vs baseline compared to non‐intervention controls (SMD −0.53; 95% CI [−0.74 to −0.33]; p < .00001). On network meta‐analysis, only yoga alone (SMD −0.71; 95% CI [−1.01 to −0.41]) and massage therapy alone (SMD −0.43; 95% CI [−0.72 to −0.14]) were more effective than control, with yoga identified as the best method ( p ‐score = .89). Conclusion Physical relaxation may help reduce occupational stress in healthcare workers. Yoga is particularly effective and offers the convenience of online delivery. Employers should consider implementing these methods into workplace wellness programs.

Burnout Among Healthcare Workers in the COVID 19 Era: A Review of the Existing Literature

“…Regarding individual measures, self-care is suggested as a line of defense for HCWs to manage requests for assistance of COVID-19 patients, especially when recovery times are short and long-terms efforts are required. Physical activity, physical relaxation, balanced diet, good sleep hygiene, family support, meaningful relationships (also maintained through digital channels), job satisfaction, self-awareness though reflective practices and small group discussions are the reported interventions with evidence of efficacy (33)(34)(35)(36).…”

Analysis of occupational stress and its correlation with oxidative-antioxidant levels among employees of a power grid enterprise in Guangdong

“…In recent years, occupational stress, characterized by increased job strain and effort-reward imbalance, has been detected more frequently due to changes in working conditions and organizational forms caused by globalization, technological innovation, and digitalization [ 1 ]. As a significant occupational health problem related to personal physical and mental health as well as work efficiency, occupational stress, also regarded as job strain or work stress, is the status of long-term exposure to occupation-related stressors that affect overall health [ 2 , 3 ]. Long-term occupational stress not only causes mental and psychological problems, such as anxiety, depression, and burnout [ 4 , 5 ], but also increases the risk of coronary heart disease, skeletal muscle disease, and other physical diseases [ 6 , 7 ], which leads to a decrease in job satisfaction [ 8 ], turnover tendency [ 9 ] and sickness absence rate of the occupational population [ 10 ].…”

Psychopathological states among Congolese health workers during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic: links with emotion regulation and social support

“…Our study is the first in sub-Saharan Africa to assess factors associated with mental health outcomes. Therefore, it might be helpful to implement interventions impacting those factors, some of which have previously been shown to be effective among health workers, such as cognitive processing therapy (Naidu, Giblin, Burke, & Madan, 2016 ), relaxation (Zhang, Murphy, Cabanilla, & Yidi, 2021 ), mindfulness training (Chmielewski, Łoś, & Łuczyński, 2021 ), emotional debriefings (Harder, Lemoine, & Harwood, 2020 ) and peer supporting groups (Miotto, Sanford, Brymer, Bursch, & Pynoos, 2020 ).…”