Creative Arts Therapy Reduces Psychological Distress in Nonpatient-Facing Healthcare Workers

Our aim was to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of a 12-week in-person Creative Arts Therapy intervention in reducing psychological distress and burnout symptoms in nonpatient-facing healthcare workers. Burnout and psychological distress among nonpatient-facing healthcare workers are significant and understudied problems in healthcare systems.

Nonpatient-facing healthcare workers with burnout symptoms were randomly assigned to one of 4 Creative Arts Therapy modalities (art, music, creative writing, or dance/movement) or a control group. The intervention consisted of 12 weekly 90-minute sessions. All participants completed baseline and follow-up assessments postintervention and at 4-, 8-, and 12-months. Primary outcomes were feasibility (session attendance) and acceptability (Client Satisfaction Questionnaire, CSQ-8). Secondary outcomes included changes in psychological distress; symptoms of burnout, anxiety, and depression; and turnover intention.

Of 168 active participants, 164 (98%) completed postintervention surveys, with 90% follow-up at 12 months. Participants attended a mean of 10.7 sessions (SD = 3.2). The median CSQ-8 score for the program was 31 (17-32). Intervention group participants demonstrated significant improvements in symptoms of anxiety (-40.6%), depression (-29.0%), emotional exhaustion (-15.0%), and depersonalization (-14.3%), and reduced turnover intention (-6.1%) compared to the control group. At 12-months, improvements in depressive and anxiety symptoms persisted.

The Creative Arts Therapy intervention was feasible, acceptable, and effective in reducing psychological distress and burnout symptoms among nonpatient-facing healthcare workers.