Effects of an Educational Intervention on Spirituality and Mental Health Among Healthcare Residents in Northeastern...

This study assessed the effects of a spirituality-focused educational intervention on the spirituality, depression, anxiety, and stress of 107 healthcare residents in Pernambuco, Brazil. Using a before-and-after design, the 32-hour intervention was delivered over eight hybrid sessions covering integral health, spirituality, psychoneurobiology, humanization, and end-of-life care. Interactive methods, including discussions, videos, simulations, and the FICA tool, promoted engagement and spiritual coping strategies. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention assessments using validated instruments: the Spirituality Self Rating Scale (SSRS), the Brief Religious/Spiritual Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Participants were mostly women (79.4%), aged 21-25 years (45.8%), single (82.2%), and without religious affiliation (40.2%). Baseline assessments showed high rates of anxiety (52.3%) and stress (57%), while most (63.6%) reported no depressive symptoms. Post-intervention, depressive symptoms slightly increased (56.1%), while anxiety (49.5%) and stress (58.8%) remained stable, with no significant changes. However, spiritual orientation significantly improved (from 15.2 to 21.8, p 0.001). Negative religious/spiritual coping (NRC) predicted poorer mental health. While the intervention did not significantly impact mental health, it enhanced spiritual orientation, underscoring its potential to foster resilience. Future research should explore longer interventions, diverse samples, and integrated psychological support.