Qualitative evaluation of a brief positive psychological online intervention for nursing staff

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate a brief positive psychological intervention with regard to the mental health of nursing staff in German hospitals. It addresses the question of how positive-psychological online exercises should be designed.

Background: Nurses in hospitals are known to suffer from mental strain and risk depressive as well as anxiety disorders. The covid-19-pandemic leads to a further aggravation of the situation. Opposed to that, positive psychological interventions can increase resilience by promoting self-management competences and mental strength.

Research methods: A 90 min positive-psychological workshop was conducted with six nurses who worked in German hospitals. It consisted of imparting knowledge on positive psychology and learning different positive psychological practices. Afterwards, guideline-based interviews were conducted with six nurses. The outcomes of interest were how the intervention was evaluated, to what extent the intervention led to a reflection and a promotion of self-management competences and whether it allowed the participants to transfer the learnings into everyday life.

Results: The intervention led to a reflection of the application competence of positive-psychological techniques by the participating nurses. A promotion of the competences could not be reached. Especially the reflection and promotion of humour competence manifested itself as difficult.

Conclusion: Despite its short-term nature, the online intervention resulted in a reflection of the nurses' application competence of positive psychology indicating its resource-promoting potential. Follow-up exercises or peer groups should be used for further development, while a training of humour competence might be part of a separate intervention.