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Digital Counseling Community for Burnout Prevention
Sponsor: Osakidetza
Summary
Burnout syndrome is a serious occupational health problem affecting healthcare professionals worldwide. Defined by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment, its consequences span mental health (depression, anxiety, insomnia, substance use), physical health (cardiovascular problems, chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders), and professional performance (reduced quality of care, absenteeism, staff turnover). Primary care professionals are a particularly high-risk group due to sustained workload, administrative burden, and limited autonomy. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions - including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, mindfulness, and organisational strategies - their implementation remains limited. Digital tools have shown promising results, but most mobile applications address stress generically and are costly to develop. Online communities via WhatsApp have emerged as an accessible, low-cost alternative with potential to deliver psychoeducational content and peer support effectively. BurnOutCare is a structured 9-week pilot intervention delivered via WhatsApp, led by Mental Health Nursing professionals, comprising four modules: mindfulness, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and burnout prevention. Content is shared three times per week using short texts, guided audio exercises, brief videos, interactive surveys, and infographics. A private individual channel provides personalised support. The study aims to assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of this approach in primary care professionals at OSI Barrualde-Galdakao (Basque Country, Spain), and to generate validated content and evidence to inform the future development of a purpose-built web/mobile health application for burnout prevention.
Official title: BurnOutCare: an Online Support Community Led by Mental Health Nurses Aimed at Preventing Burnout Among Healthcare Professionals. A Pilot Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
31
Start Date
2025-04-10
Completion Date
2025-09-05
Last Updated
2026-04-27
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
BurnOutCare WhatsApp Online Community
A 9-week structured behavioural intervention delivered via WhatsApp, comprising four evidence-based modules: (1) Mindfulness - breathing techniques, body scan, mindful observation; (2) Emotional Regulation - identification and management of emotions, cognitive restructuring; (3) Conflict Resolution - assertiveness, active listening, empathy; (4) Burnout Prevention - self-care strategies, work-life balance, recognition of burnout signs. Content formats included interactive surveys, short texts, guided audio exercises, brief videos, and infographics. An individual private channel provided personalised professional support. The programme was led by Mental Health Nursing specialists in collaboration with clinical psychology and psychiatry.
Locations (1)
Galdakao-Usansolo University Hospital - OSI Barrualde-Galdakao
Usansolo, Bizkaia, Spain