Five online lessons showed no advantage among health workers
Only 52 of 554 health workers in Chicago finished the course. Without random assignment, those 52 showed a greater change in positive emotions.
The key idea
Providing access to the program showed no advantage over waiting. Few completed it, and the positive-emotion signal appeared only in the usage-based comparison.
The study, in plain language
PARK offered health workers brief online exercises to practice skills related to positive emotions. During the pandemic, a trial in the Chicago area randomly assigned immediate or delayed access to the program.
The main comparison showed no advantage in anxiety, emotional well-being, work burnout, or sleep. Only 52 of the 554 people finished all five lessons. In a later comparison based on use, those who completed the program reported a greater change in positive emotions than those who did not use it, although the groups were not formed by random assignment. Being offered access and actually using it were two different paths through the trial.
What they found
- The program offered brief online lessons to practice skills related to positive emotions.
- The main comparison showed no advantage over waiting in anxiety, well-being, work burnout, or sleep.
- Few people finished the lessons. Those who did reported more change in positive emotions in a later comparison.
Something to think about
Offering something and having people use it are two different steps. Think of a short course in the middle of a demanding job: what would help you finish it?
How they studied it
A trial among health workers in the Chicago area randomly assigned immediate or delayed access to a self-guided, five-week program with eight skills. Sessions lasted 10 to 15 minutes. There were 554 participants.
What the study cannot show
- Few people used all the lessons, and participants were lost to follow-up.
- Comparisons based on how many lessons a person completed no longer preserve the benefit of random group assignment.
- The trial took place during the pandemic in a single health system.
The original study
Feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a positive emotion regulation intervention to promote resilience for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial
Source under CC BY 4.0. English adaptation and explanation by PaperFlow, with AI assistance. The text has been reorganized for a general audience; it is not the complete paper and does not imply endorsement by its authors.
One study alone does not represent a field's consensus. Educational content does not replace professional advice. Report a possible error.
