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Photo-supported conversations about well-being (BeWellTM) for patients with exhaustion disorders–a controlled clinical intervention study

Gunnarsson, A. Birgitta ; Wagman, Petra ; Hörberg, Ulrica ; Holmgren, Kristina and Holmberg, Sara LU (2024) In Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
Abstract

Introduction: Health-promotion approaches to address stress-related exhaustion disorders, reduce personal suffering, improve coping and participation in everyday life are needed in primary care. The aim of this study was to investigate self-reported health and well-being before and after an intervention focusing on well-being with photo-supported conversations (BeWellTM). Material and methods: Eighty-one patients (69 women), 20–67 years old, with exhaustion disorders were recruited at Swedish primary health care centres (PHCC) to a controlled clinical study. The intervention group (n = 40) were offered BeWell by therapists in addition to care as usual. Controls (n = 41) received only care as usual. The primary... (More)

Introduction: Health-promotion approaches to address stress-related exhaustion disorders, reduce personal suffering, improve coping and participation in everyday life are needed in primary care. The aim of this study was to investigate self-reported health and well-being before and after an intervention focusing on well-being with photo-supported conversations (BeWellTM). Material and methods: Eighty-one patients (69 women), 20–67 years old, with exhaustion disorders were recruited at Swedish primary health care centres (PHCC) to a controlled clinical study. The intervention group (n = 40) were offered BeWell by therapists in addition to care as usual. Controls (n = 41) received only care as usual. The primary outcome, self-rated symptoms of exhaustion (Karolinska exhaustion disorder scale, KEDS), and secondary outcomes, anxiety and depression, sense of coherence, quality of life, occupational balance, and work ability, were assessed by validated questionnaires. Non-parametric statistical analyses were used to compare data collected directly after the treatment period with baseline measures. Results: Demographics and self-rated baseline measures of health and well-being were comparable between the groups, apart from sick leave being more common in the intervention group. Participants in the intervention group reduced their level of exhaustion more than the control group (median difference on KEDS −9.0 vs −4.0, p =.035). However, the size of the KEDS reduction was related to baseline KEDS and, not independently associated with group assignment. Both groups improved regarding secondary outcome measures. Conclusion: Stress-related symptoms decreased considerably over the treatment period for both groups. The potential benefit of the BeWell, which was intended to facilitate recovery, needs to be further evaluated.

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Activities in everyday life, Clinical Trials.gov: NCT04832295, health promotion, intervention, mental health, photographs, questionnaires, retrospectively registered 2 April 2021 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04832295
in
Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care
publisher
Informa Healthcare
external identifiers
  • pmid:39503437
  • scopus:85208485885
ISSN
0281-3432
DOI
10.1080/02813432.2024.2421588
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b31172b9-85be-4963-ac15-3139f55a2783
date added to LUP
2025-02-17 15:56:40
date last changed
2025-07-08 03:38:19
@article{b31172b9-85be-4963-ac15-3139f55a2783,
  abstract     = {{<p>Introduction: Health-promotion approaches to address stress-related exhaustion disorders, reduce personal suffering, improve coping and participation in everyday life are needed in primary care. The aim of this study was to investigate self-reported health and well-being before and after an intervention focusing on well-being with photo-supported conversations (BeWell<sup>TM</sup>). Material and methods: Eighty-one patients (69 women), 20–67 years old, with exhaustion disorders were recruited at Swedish primary health care centres (PHCC) to a controlled clinical study. The intervention group (n = 40) were offered BeWell<sup>™</sup> by therapists in addition to care as usual. Controls (n = 41) received only care as usual. The primary outcome, self-rated symptoms of exhaustion (Karolinska exhaustion disorder scale, KEDS), and secondary outcomes, anxiety and depression, sense of coherence, quality of life, occupational balance, and work ability, were assessed by validated questionnaires. Non-parametric statistical analyses were used to compare data collected directly after the treatment period with baseline measures. Results: Demographics and self-rated baseline measures of health and well-being were comparable between the groups, apart from sick leave being more common in the intervention group. Participants in the intervention group reduced their level of exhaustion more than the control group (median difference on KEDS −9.0 vs −4.0, p =.035). However, the size of the KEDS reduction was related to baseline KEDS and, not independently associated with group assignment. Both groups improved regarding secondary outcome measures. Conclusion: Stress-related symptoms decreased considerably over the treatment period for both groups. The potential benefit of the BeWell<sup>™</sup>, which was intended to facilitate recovery, needs to be further evaluated.</p>}},
  author       = {{Gunnarsson, A. Birgitta and Wagman, Petra and Hörberg, Ulrica and Holmgren, Kristina and Holmberg, Sara}},
  issn         = {{0281-3432}},
  keywords     = {{Activities in everyday life; Clinical Trials.gov: NCT04832295; health promotion; intervention; mental health; photographs; questionnaires; retrospectively registered 2 April 2021 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04832295}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Informa Healthcare}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care}},
  title        = {{Photo-supported conversations about well-being (BeWell<sup>TM</sup>) for patients with exhaustion disorders–a controlled clinical intervention study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02813432.2024.2421588}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/02813432.2024.2421588}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}