I05 – Life NOW: A FACT Telehealth Intervention for Stressed Healthcare Workers

Summary

Stress levels and burnout rates were high among health care workers prior to the coronavirus pandemic, ranging from 30 to 50%. Now, current estimated rates range from 40% to 70%. Research suggests that psychotherapeutic interventions focused on enhancing psychological flexibility promote resilience. For example, a recent review of 14 studies evaluated the use of interventions informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to reduce burnout. Thirteen of the reviewed studies reported a positive outcome on one or more outcome measures (Towery-Swift, Lauvrud, & Whittington, 2022). A telehealth format for delivery of services may enhance access. Recent evaluation of telehealth services as a platform for an employee assistance coaching program found improved well-being and fewer work absences among stressed employees, with an average of only 2.6 contacts (Sagui-Henson, et al., 2021). This presentation describes the work of Yturriondobeitia, Jensen, and Robinson in pursuing a goal of developing a manualized treatment (Life NOW) and a training program that would prepare a professionally diverse group of health care workers to provide telehealth services for health care workers experiencing stress overload, beginning with a brief feasibility study, and progressing to beta testing. The Life NOW curriculum uses Focused ACT (a brief intervention model developed in and for primary care, Robinson, 2020) to engage healthcare workers in brief phone visits focused on improving functioning. Healthcare workers calling for service decide when and how often to use the telehealth service. All calls result in development of a specific plan to improve the caller’s quality of life and psychological flexibility. In this presentation, participants will learn about survey techniques used to inform core features of the Life NOW program. Participants will learn about key program materials, including several handouts (e.g., the Life NOW assessment questions, Roots of Resilience).