Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training

Pavlos Kasdovasilis; Erica Cook

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12

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Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training

Pavlos Kasdovasilis^*

, Erica Cook

Published in American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Volume 13, Issue 2)

Received: 12 March 2025 Accepted: 24 April 2025 Published: 29 April 2025

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Abstract

As part of achieving Chartered status in Health Psychology in the UK one has to create an online intervention. This study showcases such an intervention to support care workers by addressing stress management, mindfulness, resilience, and sleep hygiene. The delivery of the intervention was via Microsoft Teams and it focused on a) psychoeducation, b) mindfulness, c) resilience-building, d) and peer support. The intervention assessments included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Quality of life scale (EQ-5D), and the Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAS). The results demonstrated a reduction in stress and an improvement in sleep quality and mood; however no statistical significance in quality of life was observed. Qualitative feedback highlighted the benefits of psychoeducation, mindfulness training, and the buddy system. Staff reported a greater awareness over their stress, improved sleep hygiene and a sense of connection with colleagues. Despite the short duration the intervention was positively received, suggesting that structured targeted interventions can be beneficial for front-line care workers and can be created by small organisations. Future research should explore extending the intervention’s duration and incorporating follow-up support to enhance long-term effectiveness as well as training guidance for in-house teams.

Published in	American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Volume 13, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12
Page(s)	29-34
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

COVID-19, Frontline Care Staff, Stress Management, Sleep Hygiene, Resilience Training, Psychological Intervention, Stage 2 Training

References

[1]	British Psychological Society. Qualification in Health Psychology (Stage 2). Handbook for Candidates. Available from: https://cms.bps.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-07/QHP%20Candidate%20Handbook.pdf#page=23.04 [Accessed 05 March 2025].
[2]	Benfante, A., Di Tella, M., Romeo, A., & Castelli, L. Traumatic stress in healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: A review of the immediate impact. Frontiers in Psychology. 2020, 11, 569935. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.569935
[3]	Kasdovasilis P., Cook N., Montasem A., Davis G. Healthcare support workers' lived experiences and adaptation strategies within the care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. A meta-ethnography review. Home Health Care Serv Q. 2022; 41(4): 267-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/01621424.2022.2105771
[4]	Bender, A. E., Berg, K. A., Miller, E. K., Evans, K. E., & Holmes, M. R. Making sure we are all okay: Healthcare workers’ strategies for emotional connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical Social Work Journal. 2021, 49(4), 445–455. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-020-00781-w
[5]	Kasdovasilis, P., Cook, N., & Montasem, A. UK healthcare support workers and the COVID-19 pandemic: an explorative analysis of lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Home Health Care Services Quarterly. 2022, 42(1), 14–39. https://doi.org/10.1080/01621424.2022.2123757
[6]	Rodriguez-Vega B, Palao Á, Muñoz-Sanjose A, et al. Implementation of a Mindfulness-Based Crisis Intervention for Frontline Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Outbreak in a Public General Hospital in Madrid, Spain. Front Psychiatry. 2020; 11: 562578. Published 2020 Oct 30. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.562578
[7]	Li J, Luo R, Guo P, et al. Effectiveness of a WHO self-help psychological intervention to alleviate stress among healthcare workers in the context of COVID-19 in China: a randomised controlled trial. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences. 2024; 33: e11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796024000106
[8]	Albott CS, Wozniak JR, McGlinch BP, Wall MH, Gold BS, Vinogradov S. Battle Buddies: Rapid Deployment of a Psychological Resilience Intervention for Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Anesth Analg. 2020; 131(1): 43-54. https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0000000000004912
[9]	Meredith LS, Ahluwalia S, Chen PG, et al. Testing an Intervention to Improve Health Care Worker Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024; 7(4): e244192. Published 2024 Apr 1. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.4192
[10]	Hendriks, T., Schotanus-Dijkstra, M., Hassankhan, A., De Jong, J., & Bohlmeijer, E., 2019. The Efficacy of Multi-component Positive Psychology Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21, pp. 357-390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00082-1
[11]	Lim, W., & Tierney, S., 2022. The Effectiveness of Positive Psychology Interventions for Promoting Well-being of Adults Experiencing Depression Compared to Other Active Psychological Treatments: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24, pp. 249 - 273. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00598-z
[12]	Prudenzi, A., Graham, C., Flaxman, P., Wilding, S., Day, F., & O'Connor, D., 2022. A workplace Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for improving healthcare staff psychological distress: A randomised controlled trial. PLoS ONE, 17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266357
[13]	De Kock, J., Latham, H., Cowden, R., Cullen, B., Narzisi, K., Jerdan, S., Muñoz, S., Leslie, S., Stamatis, A., & Eze, J., 2021. Brief Digital Interventions to Support the Psychological Well-being of NHS Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic: 3-Arm Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Mental Health, 9. https://doi.org/10.2196/34002
[14]	Wade, D., Georgieva, M., Gunnewicht, H., Finnigan, J., & MacCallum, N., 2020. Delivery of a psychological intervention to assess and reduce workplace stress among intensive care staff. Journal of the Intensive Care Society, 22, pp. 52 - 59. https://doi.org/10.1177/1751143719884855
[15]	Plys, E., Law, M., Seward, M., & Vranceanu, A., 2024. STAFF FOCUS GROUP TO INFORM A DYADIC PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION FOR SHORT-STAYS IN NURSING HOME. Innovation in Aging, 8, pp. 1161 - 1162. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igae098.3724

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APA Style

Kasdovasilis, P., Cook, E. (2025). Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 13(2), 29-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12

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ACS Style

Kasdovasilis, P.; Cook, E. Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training. Am. J. Clin. Exp. Med. 2025, 13(2), 29-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12

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AMA Style

Kasdovasilis P, Cook E. Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training. Am J Clin Exp Med. 2025;13(2):29-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12,
  author = {Pavlos Kasdovasilis and Erica Cook},
  title = {Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training
},
  journal = {American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {29-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcem.20251302.12},
  abstract = {As part of achieving Chartered status in Health Psychology in the UK one has to create an online intervention. This study showcases such an intervention to support care workers by addressing stress management, mindfulness, resilience, and sleep hygiene. The delivery of the intervention was via Microsoft Teams and it focused on a) psychoeducation, b) mindfulness, c) resilience-building, d) and peer support. The intervention assessments included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Quality of life scale (EQ-5D), and the Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAS). The results demonstrated a reduction in stress and an improvement in sleep quality and mood; however no statistical significance in quality of life was observed. Qualitative feedback highlighted the benefits of psychoeducation, mindfulness training, and the buddy system. Staff reported a greater awareness over their stress, improved sleep hygiene and a sense of connection with colleagues. Despite the short duration the intervention was positively received, suggesting that structured targeted interventions can be beneficial for front-line care workers and can be created by small organisations. Future research should explore extending the intervention’s duration and incorporating follow-up support to enhance long-term effectiveness as well as training guidance for in-house teams.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training

AU  - Pavlos Kasdovasilis
AU  - Erica Cook
Y1  - 2025/04/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12
T2  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JF  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JO  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
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EP  - 34
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8133
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12
AB  - As part of achieving Chartered status in Health Psychology in the UK one has to create an online intervention. This study showcases such an intervention to support care workers by addressing stress management, mindfulness, resilience, and sleep hygiene. The delivery of the intervention was via Microsoft Teams and it focused on a) psychoeducation, b) mindfulness, c) resilience-building, d) and peer support. The intervention assessments included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Quality of life scale (EQ-5D), and the Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAS). The results demonstrated a reduction in stress and an improvement in sleep quality and mood; however no statistical significance in quality of life was observed. Qualitative feedback highlighted the benefits of psychoeducation, mindfulness training, and the buddy system. Staff reported a greater awareness over their stress, improved sleep hygiene and a sense of connection with colleagues. Despite the short duration the intervention was positively received, suggesting that structured targeted interventions can be beneficial for front-line care workers and can be created by small organisations. Future research should explore extending the intervention’s duration and incorporating follow-up support to enhance long-term effectiveness as well as training guidance for in-house teams.

VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Pavlos Kasdovasilis

Department of Psychology, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, United Kingdom

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4489-9252
Erica Cook

Department of Psychology, University of Bedfordshire, Luton, United Kingdom

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4369-8202

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APA Style

Kasdovasilis, P., Cook, E. (2025). Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training. American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, 13(2), 29-34. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12

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ACS Style

Kasdovasilis, P.; Cook, E. Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training. Am. J. Clin. Exp. Med. 2025, 13(2), 29-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12

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AMA Style

Kasdovasilis P, Cook E. Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training. Am J Clin Exp Med. 2025;13(2):29-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12,
  author = {Pavlos Kasdovasilis and Erica Cook},
  title = {Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training
},
  journal = {American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine},
  volume = {13},
  number = {2},
  pages = {29-34},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajcem.20251302.12},
  abstract = {As part of achieving Chartered status in Health Psychology in the UK one has to create an online intervention. This study showcases such an intervention to support care workers by addressing stress management, mindfulness, resilience, and sleep hygiene. The delivery of the intervention was via Microsoft Teams and it focused on a) psychoeducation, b) mindfulness, c) resilience-building, d) and peer support. The intervention assessments included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Quality of life scale (EQ-5D), and the Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAS). The results demonstrated a reduction in stress and an improvement in sleep quality and mood; however no statistical significance in quality of life was observed. Qualitative feedback highlighted the benefits of psychoeducation, mindfulness training, and the buddy system. Staff reported a greater awareness over their stress, improved sleep hygiene and a sense of connection with colleagues. Despite the short duration the intervention was positively received, suggesting that structured targeted interventions can be beneficial for front-line care workers and can be created by small organisations. Future research should explore extending the intervention’s duration and incorporating follow-up support to enhance long-term effectiveness as well as training guidance for in-house teams.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Design and Delivery of a Holistic Three-Day Post-COVID-19 Psychological Intervention for Care Staff in the UK as Part of Stage 2 Health Psychology Training

AU  - Pavlos Kasdovasilis
AU  - Erica Cook
Y1  - 2025/04/29
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12
T2  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JF  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
JO  - American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
SP  - 29
EP  - 34
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8133
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajcem.20251302.12
AB  - As part of achieving Chartered status in Health Psychology in the UK one has to create an online intervention. This study showcases such an intervention to support care workers by addressing stress management, mindfulness, resilience, and sleep hygiene. The delivery of the intervention was via Microsoft Teams and it focused on a) psychoeducation, b) mindfulness, c) resilience-building, d) and peer support. The intervention assessments included the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Quality of life scale (EQ-5D), and the Visual Analog Mood Scale (VAS). The results demonstrated a reduction in stress and an improvement in sleep quality and mood; however no statistical significance in quality of life was observed. Qualitative feedback highlighted the benefits of psychoeducation, mindfulness training, and the buddy system. Staff reported a greater awareness over their stress, improved sleep hygiene and a sense of connection with colleagues. Despite the short duration the intervention was positively received, suggesting that structured targeted interventions can be beneficial for front-line care workers and can be created by small organisations. Future research should explore extending the intervention’s duration and incorporating follow-up support to enhance long-term effectiveness as well as training guidance for in-house teams.

VL  - 13
IS  - 2
ER  -

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