Mindful Attention Training Workshop for Firefighters

Trauma Clinical Trial

— HAZMAT  

Official title:

Healthy Action Zone - Mindful Attention Training: A Mindfulness-Based Workshop for Firefighters

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04909216
• Other study ID #: STUDY00002213
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 5, 2021
• Est. completion date: April 14, 2023

Study information

• Verified date: May 2023
• Source: University of Houston
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

The overarching goal of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of Mindful Attention Training (MAT), a novel mindfulness-based intervention that is specifically developed for firefighters. This project is designed to improve the health of firefighters, an integral, essential component of our national and international communities. Moreover, the study aims to promote health service psychologists by enhancing our contributions to the mental healthcare of firefighters, an understudied and underserved segment of the population by virtue of their service to our communities. This study therefore has significant potential to identify, develop, and promote an effective model of quality, evidence-based mental health promotion and illness prevention by integrating health service psychology into the fire service.

Description:

Firefighters are repeatedly exposed to traumatic and stressful situations, increasing their vulnerability for the development of various psychological symptoms and disorders. As many as 32.4% of firefighters meet criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with significantly more experiencing significant subclinical PTSD symptoms. Approximately 22% of firefighters are also at risk for depression, 46.8% reported serious suicidal ideation, and 15.5% reported having made a suicide attempt during heir firefighter tenure6. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) among firefighters is estimated at approximately 50%, nearly twice that of the general population. Given the chronically stressful and potentially traumatic nature of the firefighting profession and the high rates of psychological disturbances among firefighters, the development of specialized mental health promotion and illness prevention programs for this vulnerable population is a priority. Mindfulness, generally defined as bringing one's full attention to the present moment and taking a stance of nonjudgmental acceptance to the ongoing flow of sensations, thoughts, and/or emotional states, has significant clinical relevance to the prevention and treatment of various psychological conditions. Mindfulness-based interventions have demonstrated efficacy with regard to various psychological symptoms, including PTSD, depression, and alcohol use. In a military context, mindful attention training has shown promise in terms of reducing the impact of combat on psychological health. However, no specialized mindfulness-based interventions exist for firefighters. The overarching goal of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of Mindful Attention Training (MAT), a novel mindfulness-based intervention that is specifically developed for firefighters. This project is designed to improve the health of firefighters, an integral, essential component of our national and international communities. Moreover, the study aims to promote health service psychologists by enhancing our contributions to the mental healthcare of firefighters, an understudied and underserved segment of the population by virtue of their service to our communities. This study therefore has significant potential to identify, develop, and promote an effective model of quality, evidence-based mental health promotion and illness prevention by integrating health service psychology into the fire service. Aim 1: To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop, as compared to waitlist comparison ("as usual" condition), on mental health promotion among firefighters, as defined by: self-reported levels of (1a) mindful attention and awareness, (1b) nonjudgmental acceptance, and (1c) nonreactivity at each time point. Aim 2: To evaluate the efficacy of the MAT workshop, as compared to waitlist, on psychological 'illness' prevention among firefighters, as defined by: self-reported symptom severity of PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and alcohol use at each time point. Aim 3: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the MAT workshop, as compared to waitlist, as defined by: (1) firefighters' self-reported helpfulness of the workshop and (2) firefighters' self-reported satisfaction ratings of the workshop.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 82
• Est. completion date: April 14, 2023
• Est. primary completion date: April 14, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• = 18 years of age
• Current employment as a firefighter with the Houston Fire Department

Exclusion Criteria:

• Persons who are not actively employed in the Houston Fire Department (e.g. former firefighters, retired firefighters)
• Current imminent risk of suicidality and/or homicidality (i.e., past month ideation with intent or plan)
• Inability to provide verbal or written consent
• Study personnel will not recruit or screen for individuals who fall into the following categories: pregnant women, prisoners, students for whom study personnel have direct access to/influence on grades, or economically and/or educationally disadvantaged persons

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Disease
• Mental Disorders
• Mindfulness
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
• Stress Disorders, Traumatic
• Trauma

Intervention

Other:
• Mindful Attention Workshop
The 90-minute workshop will include a 15-minute break and include up to 15 participants. The workshop will be led by peer support staff, fire department psychologists, and/or fire department doctoral psychology practicum students. Each workshop will be facilitate by up to 3 workshop leaders. The workshop will provide (1) psychoeducation regarding common mental health concerns among firefighters, (2) introduction to the concept of mindful attention, why it is relevant to firefighters, and how it can prevent or decrease mental health symptoms, (3) 5 experiential mindful attention training exercises, and (4) discussion. Workshop co-leaders will teach 5 mindful attention exercises, and firefighters will practice each exercise and then engage in discussion about their experiences and provide feedback regarding the utility of the exercise for them personally and for firefighters, generally.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Trauma and Stress Studies Center	Houston	Texas

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Houston

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Changes in mindfulness	To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop by examining self-reported levels of (1) nonjudgmental acceptance, (2) nonreactivity as well as (3) psychological resilience and (4) self-compassion at each time point using the following measure: - Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ; Baer et al., 2006): 39-item measure that assesses a participant's capacity for the following five factors: observing, describing, acting with awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity to inner experience.	Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up
Primary	Changes in mindful attention	To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop by examining self-reported levels of mindful attention and awareness at each time point using the following measure: - Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS; Brown & Ryan, 2003): 15-item scale assessing a participant's capacity for mindful attention, a key component of mindfulness.	Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up
Primary	Changes in PTSD symptom severity	To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the symptom severity of PTSD at each time point using the following measure: - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (PCL-5): 20-item self-report measure that assesses the 20 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) symptoms of PTSD over the past month.	Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up
Primary	Changes in hazardous drinking patterns	To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the alcohol use and alcohol use severity at each time point using the following measure: - Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT): 10-item screening measurement to assess any hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption during the past year.	Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up
Primary	Changes in depressive symptoms	To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the symptom severity of depression at each time point using the following measure: - Overall Depression Severity and Impairment Scale (ODSIS): 5 item measure assessing for past week depression-related symptoms.	Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up
Primary	Changes in suicidal thoughts	To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the severity and presence of suicidal thoughts at each time point using the following measure: - Beck Suicide Scale-5 (BSS-5): 5-item measure assessing the presence and intensity of suicidal thoughts.	Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up
Primary	Evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop	To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the MAT workshop, as compared to waitlist, as defined by: (1) firefighters' self-reported helpfulness of the workshop and (2) firefighters' self-reported efficacy ratings of the workshop using the following measure: - Post-MAT Workshop Questionnaire (Post-MAT): 10-item questionnaire assessing the degree to which participants found the workshop helpful and tolerable.	Administered at 1-week follow-up
Primary	Changes in anxiety symptoms	To evaluate the efficacy of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on the symptom severity of anxiety at each time point using the following measure: - Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS): 5 item measure assessing for past week anxiety-related symptoms.	Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up
Secondary	Evaluate group dynamics	To evaluate the group dynamics of the MAT workshop using the following measure: - Group Evaluation Scale (GES; Joyce, 2005): 7-item measure assessing how the participant felt while participating in the group, particularly comfortability and sense of being understood by other group members.	Administered at 1-week follow-up
Secondary	Evaluate group cohesion	To evaluate the cohesion of each group in the MAT workshop using the following measure: - Group Cohesion Questionnaire (GCQ; MacKenzie, 1983): 12-item measure assessing a participant's view of the cohesion of the group and the quality of the group dynamic.	Administered at 1-week follow-up
Secondary	Evaluate occupational stress	To evaluate the influence of the Mindful Attention Training (MAT) workshop on self-reported occupational stress levels at each time point using the following measure: - The Sources of Occupational Stress (SOOS-14): 14-item self-report measure used to assess levels of occupational stress (i.e., harmful physical and psychological responses that occur when job requirements do not align with the worker's abilities, resources, and/or needs) among firefighters.	Administered at each of the following timepoints: baseline, 1-week follow-up, 2-week follow-up, 1-month follow-up, 3-month follow-up, and 6-month follow-up