Articles
Studying the mental health effects of taking breaks at a hospital farm among hospital workers in Pennsylvania
Article number
1459_12
Pages
117 – 124
Language
English
Abstract
Burnout is common among US healthcare workers.
Literature suggests that hospital gardens could reduce stress and prevent burnout among healthcare workers.
We studied whether taking work breaks at the Deaver Wellness Farm on the grounds of Lankenau Medical Center (LMC) in Pennsylvania impacted the mental health of LMC employees.
Using a randomized crossover design, we asked employees to take 10-20-min work breaks in three separate scenarios (study arms) over a 3-month period: on the farm; performing tasks (working) on the farm; and inside in a designated area.
We measured self-reported emotional states before and after each work break, and mental health, stress, burnout, and resilience at baseline and during the washout week between study arms.
The mean differences were compared using repeated measure ANOVA. Further, we conducted post-study interviews to gather qualitative reflections on taking breaks at the farm and barriers and facilitators to project participation.
This pilot study consisted of 10 LMC employees.
We found that employees who took breaks working on the farm in comfortable outdoor temperature reported reduced mean anxiety levels, sadness, anger, fatigue, and pain after the break compared to before.
Further, we found significantly greater decreases in worry when employees worked on the farm compared to when employees took breaks inside.
We found no statistically significant differences in health outcomes between arms during the washout period.
During interviews, participants reported enjoying breaks on the farm for stress reduction, as well as an opportunity to disconnect from the hospital.
Common barriers to participation included being too busy to participate or not dressed appropriately to work on the farm.
Hospital employees reported improvements in emotional states after taking breaks on a hospital farm, and general enjoyment performing gardening activities.
Hospitals should consider creating farms on their campuses as they may promote employee mental health.
Literature suggests that hospital gardens could reduce stress and prevent burnout among healthcare workers.
We studied whether taking work breaks at the Deaver Wellness Farm on the grounds of Lankenau Medical Center (LMC) in Pennsylvania impacted the mental health of LMC employees.
Using a randomized crossover design, we asked employees to take 10-20-min work breaks in three separate scenarios (study arms) over a 3-month period: on the farm; performing tasks (working) on the farm; and inside in a designated area.
We measured self-reported emotional states before and after each work break, and mental health, stress, burnout, and resilience at baseline and during the washout week between study arms.
The mean differences were compared using repeated measure ANOVA. Further, we conducted post-study interviews to gather qualitative reflections on taking breaks at the farm and barriers and facilitators to project participation.
This pilot study consisted of 10 LMC employees.
We found that employees who took breaks working on the farm in comfortable outdoor temperature reported reduced mean anxiety levels, sadness, anger, fatigue, and pain after the break compared to before.
Further, we found significantly greater decreases in worry when employees worked on the farm compared to when employees took breaks inside.
We found no statistically significant differences in health outcomes between arms during the washout period.
During interviews, participants reported enjoying breaks on the farm for stress reduction, as well as an opportunity to disconnect from the hospital.
Common barriers to participation included being too busy to participate or not dressed appropriately to work on the farm.
Hospital employees reported improvements in emotional states after taking breaks on a hospital farm, and general enjoyment performing gardening activities.
Hospitals should consider creating farms on their campuses as they may promote employee mental health.
Publication
Authors
R.K. McIntire, J. Massuda, F. Hughes, S. Kjelstrom, G. Montone, B. Banks, K.A. Bucher, S. Larson
Keywords
hospital farm, greenspace, hospital worker, mental health, stress, burnout
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