Multisensory Environmental Therapy (Snoezelen) for Job Stress Reduction in Mental Health Nurses: a Randomised Trial

Abstract

This independent measures experimental design study conducted in the UK and USA, assessed the benefits of multisensory environmental therapy (MSET) using a snoezelen room to reduce occupational stress in sixteen mental health nurses. An independent staff member randomly allocated each participant to one of two intervention conditions: either the hospital /university unit lounge (control group n = 8) or MSET (experimental group n=8). The intervention was undertaken for four weeks, two sessions per week, for thirty minutes. Measures of pulse rate were obtained both pre-and post-intervention. In addition, pre-and post-measures were obtained on the State-Trait Anxiety Scale and the Profile of Mood States and, upon conclusion of the study, an intervention satisfaction questionnaire was completed. Sixteen participants were included in the analysis of the primary outcomes. A significant treatment by pre-post interaction was found for pulse rates, the State Anxiety Scale, and on the Confusion Bewilderment sub-scale of the Profile of Mood States scale. In conclusion, nurses reported unanimous satisfaction with MSET and felt their on-the-job performance was enhanced in the areas of holistic caring for patients and problem solving.