Mindful Coloring to Reduce Nurses' Stress

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether nurses who did mindful coloring for at least five working days during a 10-day period experienced stress reduction afterwards.

Enrolled participants who met inclusion criteria (full-time clinical nurses working for at least five days during a specified 10-day period) were randomized in 1:1 ratio to the coloring or control groups. A third party did the allocation sequence and concealment. After giving informed consent, participants completed the baseline questionnaire and the coloring group watched an instructional video on mindful coloring. The coloring group were asked to color for any length of time on at least five working days during a 10-day period (period A) while the control group were asked to do it on a subsequent 10-day (period B). The post-intervention questionnaire was completed by both groups at the end of period A. The study was completed after period B.

Participants were allocated into the experimental and wait-list control groups. The experimental group colored for at least 5 days during a 10-day period while the control group did not.

This group did mindful coloring for at least 5 days or at least 100 minutes in total during a 10-day period

Participants watched an instructional video on mindful coloring at the beginning of the intervention and colored mindfully for at least 5 days or 100 minutes in total during a 10-day period. The intervention included a coloring booklet that contained mandala patterns for coloring.

Scores of 0-40 measured by the Perceived Stress Scale. A positive outcome is indicated by a lower post-intervention score.

Scores of 7-35 measured by the short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. A positive outcome is indicated by a higher post-intervention score.

Three subscales (each with a separate score) assessing three facets of burnout including Emotional Exhaustion (scores 0-54), Depersonalisation (scores 0-30) and Personal Accomplishment (scores 0-48) measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey for medical personnel. Burnout is represented by a combination of high emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores, together with a low personal accomplishment score. Positive outcomes are indicated by a lower score in Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalisation, and a higher score in Personal Accomplishment.

Scores of 24-120 measured by the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire - short form. A positive outcome is indicated by a higher post-intervention score.

Inclusion Criteria: Full time clinical nurses working under the Hospital Authority who would be working for at least 5 days during a specified 10-day study period. Exclusion Criteria: -

Fong JSY, Hui ANN, Ho KM, Chan AKM, Lee A. Brief mindful coloring for stress reduction in nurses working in a Hong Kong hospital during COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Oct 28;101(43):e31253. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000031253.