The effectiveness of an Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy intervention for reducing psychological distress and burnout in healthcare professionals: A randomized controlled trial (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Psychological distress and burnout are prevalent among healthcare professionals (HCPs) and can lead to poor quality of patient care. Internet-based acceptance and commitment therapy (iACT) is a promising intervention for improving mental health due to its low costs and easy access. However, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness in reducing HCPs' psychological distress and burnout. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the effects of iACT on psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression) and burnout among HCPs in China. METHODS From October 2022 to January 2023, 108 HCPs were recruited and randomized into a 6-week iACT intervention group (n=54) or a waitlist control (WLC) group (n=54). The intervention included 21 self-guided sessions combining teaching videos, mindfulness practices, and journal writing, followed by eight live conferences to share experiences and discuss questions, all conducted online. Primary outcomes (stress, anxiety, and depression) and secondary outcomes (burnout and psychological flexibility) were collected using the online Sojump platform. RESULTS Among the 108 HCPs, 68 (63.0%) completed the follow-up assessment at week 10, including 35 in the iACT group and 33 in the WLC group. Compared to the control group, the iACT group showed significantly lower scores in stress, depression, and anxiety and higher scores in psychological flexibility. CONCLUSIONS The iACT effectively decreased HCPs' psychological distress and burnout and improved their psychological flexibility. Our findings provide implications and guidance for the development and wide implementation of iACT in healthcare settings to improve the mental health of HCPs. CLINICALTRIAL Chinese Clinical Trial Register ChiCTR MR-43-24-000480