Authors (including presenting author) :
MOK, C. L. Michelle, SIN, K. M., CHEAH, A. K. M., CHENG, T. N., CHEUNG, S., HO, H. H. Holly, LAW, Y. Y., LEE, S. L. Michael, LUI, W. S., POON, W. Y. Venessa, SO, Y., SZE, M. T., TAM, C. Y., TONG, M. Y., WONG, H. W., WONG, H. K., NG. J., TAM, W. Y. Karen
Affiliation :
Corporate Clinical Psychology Services, Head Office, Hospital Authority
Keyword 1: :
Self-compassion
Keyword 4: :
Creative interventions
Keyword 5: :
Staff wellbeing
Keyword 6: :
Stress reduction
Introduction :
Background:
Healthcare professionals in Hospital Authority (HA) experience substantial occupational stress and burnout risk. As part of the self-compassion and mindfulness campaign, this study evaluated a face-to-face DIY taster session intervention, designed to provide staff with an immersive and restorative experience within the hospital.
Methodology :
Methods:
DIY taster sessions were conducted in-person across multiple HA sites. Each session featured a guided introduction to self-compassion and mindfulness, facilitated by a clinical psychologist, and included interactive art-based activities, such as bookmark making and self-compassionate letter writing. The calming, cozy environment aimed to foster individual reflection and social connectedness. Quantitative data were collected via post-session surveys, capturing 5-point Likert satisfaction ratings and retrospective pre- and post-intervention stress scores.
Result & Outcome :
Results:
A total of 158 paired responses were analyzed, representing diverse HA staff across job ranks and clusters. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed a significant reduction in stress following the intervention (W = 2,011.0, Z = -7.93, p < .001, r = 0.63, n = 158) with a large effect size. Kruskal-Wallis tests showed no significant differences in stress reduction by hospital cluster (H(7) = 8.52, p = .287) or job rank (H(25) = 30.7, p = .192), suggesting broad effectiveness. Session satisfaction was high, with most participants reporting positive experiences and valuing the immersive, hands-on activities. Thematic analysis highlighted four themes: (1) stress reduction and relaxation in a safe, non-judgmental space; (2) social connectedness; (3) appreciation of art-based self-care; and (4) gratitude for opportunities to pause and reflect during busy routines. Suggestions for improvement included broadening art activity options and increasing session frequency. Conclusions:
In-person, guided DIY taster sessions provided an effective and unique approach to stress reduction among HA staff. Significant stress reductions and high satisfaction were observed across staff groups, supporting the value of creative, art-based wellbeing initiatives in staff support strategies to promote self-compassion and social connection. Details of the brief hybrid intervention are provided in a separate abstract.
