Destress 9-1-1—an online mindfulness-based intervention in reducing stress among emergency medical dispatchers: a randomised controlled trial
Open accessAbstract
Objectives: Emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) experience significant stress in the workplace. Yet, interventions aimed at reducing work-related stress are difficult to implement due to the logistic challenges associated with the relatively unique EMD work environment. This investigation tested the efficacy of a 7-week online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) tailored to the EMD workforce. Methods: Active-duty EMDs from the USA and Canada (n=323) were randomly assigned to an intervention or wait list control condition. Participants completed surveys of stress and mindfulness at baseline, post intervention, and 3 months follow-up. Repeated measures mixed effects models were used to assess changes in stress and mindfulness. Results: Differences between the intervention group and control group in pre–post changes in stress using the Calgary Symptoms of Stress Inventory were statistically significant, with a difference of −10.0 (95% CI: −14.9, −5.2, p<0.001) for change from baseline to post intervention, and a difference of −6.5 (95% CI: −11.9, −1.1, p=0.02) for change from baseline to 3 months follow-up. Change in mindfulness scores did not differ between groups. However, increases in mindfulness scores were correlated with greater reductions in stress for all participants, regardless of group (r=−0.53, p<0.001). Conclusions: Development of tailored online MBIs for employees working in challenging work environments offer a promising direction for prevention and intervention. This study found that a short, weekly online MBI for EMDs resulted in reductions in reports of stress. Implications of online MBIs in other emergency responding populations and directions for future research are discussed.
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The use of digital formats to promote health and well-being in the workplace has been increasing even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The use of digital formats to promote health and well-being in the workplace has been increasing even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, as evidenced by the growing amount of studies investigating digital formats (e.g., Bostock et al., 2019; Coelhoso et al., 2019; Lilly et al., 2019).”
From Mindfulness-Based and Mindfulness-Informed Interventions at the Workplace: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of RCTs (2023) · cites this paper as Lilly et al., 2019
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- Authors
- Lilly, M., Calhoun, R., Painter, I., Beaton, R., Stangenes, S., Revere, D., Baseman, J., & Meischke, H.
- Affiliations
- Northern Illinois University (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lilly, Michelle
- Venue
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2019-05-28
- Volume
- 76
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 705-711
- ISSN
- 0007-1072 (ISSN-L)
- 1351-0711
- 1470-7926
- OpenAlex
- W2947681203
- Cited by
- 39
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1
- FWCI
- 5.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Keywords
- emergency medical dispatchers, occupational stress, mindfulness-based interventions, online intervention, workplace stress reduction, stress prevention
- MeSH terms
- Emergency Medical Dispatcher, Occupational Stress, Internet-Based Intervention, Adult, Canada, Female, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States, Mindfulness
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