Title : The effect of anonymous group psychotherapy via teleconference as a treatment of cardiological and respiratory health problems in clinical and community nursing personnel who experience anxiety and are victims of workplace harassment
Abstract:
Background: It is widely accepted that harassment in the workplace may have negative effects on the mental and physical health of nurses. We hypothesized therefore that short schema psychotherapy may cure cardiological and respiratory health problems in clinical and community nursing personnel who experience anxiety and are victims of workplace harassment thus improve nurses quality of life. Αnonymous group psychotherapy provide a practical solution to a problem that could simplify that is the stigmatization of the nurses that could avoid by not mentioning their real name and by not appearing their faces on the screen during the treatment.
Purpose: This study is sought to identify the effectiveness of anonymous group psychotherapy via teleconference on victims of workplace harassment in nursing personnel working on NHS of Greece.
Method: A case-control study enrolled 14 nurses victims of workplace harassment were randomly allocated in parallel and anonymous psychotherapy groups during August 2017 and January 2018. A qualified psychologist delivered a schema method by not mentioning nurses’ real names and by not appearing their faces on the screen during sessions to cure cardiological and respiratory health problems. Validated screening tools were used to assess anxiety State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) to assess the intensity of the anxiety. Individuals characteristics were also assessed. P-values >0.50 were considered statistically significant.
Results: Significant chronic and temporary anxiety reduction were presented in the psychotherapy group compared to the control group (p-value = 0.038). In particular, individuals before the intervention (week 0, t = 0), presented with a higher level of total anxiety (STAI= mean 81.42) in comparison to (mean 67.28 - week 14, t = 1) after the intervention, suggesting that the psychotherapy schema was efficient. Similarly, decreased anxiety symptoms were also found after the intervention (mean 9.71 to 4.85) using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale. No other significant differences were found even though most of the participants were females. Specifically, there was a reduction in the severity of symptoms related to the following chronic health problems: anxiety, cardiovascular problems, and respiratory problems.
Conclusions: Our data suggest that anonymous group psychotherapy via teleconference is a safe and effective method for the treatment of the intensity of the symptoms arising from the anxiety in the persons who have suffered from work harassment and specifically in the following health problems: anxiety mood, cardiovascular problems and respiratory problems.
Keywords: Anonymous group psychotherapy, Teleconference, Cardiological health problems, Respiratory health problems, Anxiety, Nursing Personnel.
What will audience learn from your presentation?
Τhe audience and especially nursing personnel will learn that Anonymous group psychotherapy could used as a treatment for the psychosomatic health problems (cardiac and respiratory disorders) resulting from anxiety. This survey will help the audience in their job by improving nurses’ quality of life. This research another faculty could use to expand their research applying others forms of treatments e.g. anonymous individual psychotherapy. This provide a practical solution to a problem that could simplify that is the stigmatization of the nurses that could avoid by not mentioning their real name and by not appearing their faces on the screen during the treatment.
