Apply Presentation - 30 minutes International Positive Psychology Association 8th IPPA World Congress 2023

FIRECARE, COCARE, EMCARE : 3 interventions based on mindfulness, cardiac coherence and positive psychology experienced by the medical rescue team, the emergency dispatchers and the firefighters in command of the Paris fire brigade to improve stress management, emotions, resilience and leadership. (#61)

Louise Giaume 1 , Adrien Jimenez 2 , Daniel Jost 1 , Stephane Travers 1 3 , Marion Trousselard 2 3
  1. Paris fire brigade, Paris
  2. French Military Biomedical Research Institute, Bretigny-sur-Orge, France
  3. Val-de-Grâce Military Health Academy, France

Background

Over the last years, many studies have shown the benefits of mindfulness intervention for healthcare providers, military and firefighters, not only in terms of professional and operational exhaustion, but also in terms of stress management and the complications of chronic stress.

Aims

Since 2021, three mindfulness interventions enriched by cardiac coherence and positive psychology have been held at the Paris fire brigade: (1) FIRECARE for the prehospital medical rescue team, (2) COCARE for emergency dispatchers, (3) EMCARE for firefighter in command. The objectives of these programs were to evaluate their impact on stress and its complications, leadership and metacognition (EMCARE)

Method

The three surveys are observational, interventional, before-and-after study. FIRECARE was conducted in 2021. Participants were divided into two groups: the first group received training while the second group was on a waiting list. Questionnaires were sent to both groups before, after, and at 3 months to assess its impact on burnout, stress, and self-compassion. COCARE was conducted in 2022. Each subject was their own control. Questionnaires were sent to participants 6 weeks before, before, after, and at 3 months to assess its impact on stress, resilience, and sleep disturbance. EMCARE is currently being evaluated.

Results

FIRECARE showed a significant decrease in burnout score after the program in subjects who had an intermediate burnout score before the program (p = 0.006). The same results were observed in subjects with a high anxiety and depression score before training (p <0.001; p <0.001). These effects were still effective at 3 months (p = 0.02; p <0.001; p <0.001). COCARE showed significant results with an increase in positive affects (p <0.001), a decrease in negative affect (p <0.001), a decrease in posttraumatic stress disorder screening score (p = 0.01), and an improvement in sleep disturbance. These effects were maintained at 3 months.

Conclusion

Mindfulness intervention enriched by cardiac coherence and positive psychology for first responders show significant results on stress, resilience, burnout.

  • Please select up to 3 keywords from the following list to best describe your submission content: Coping and Emotion Regulation, Leadership/Management, Mindfulness
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