A Pilot RCT on the Effect of ExAT on Teacher Burnout and Stress

Launched by CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG · Nov 24, 2022

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how Expressive Art Therapy (ExAT) might help reduce feelings of burnout and stress among teachers in Hong Kong. The trial will involve 90 primary and secondary school teachers who will be randomly assigned to either participate in the therapy sessions or join a waitlist group. If in the ExAT group, teachers will attend workshops for two hours a day over two weeks, engaging in activities like body movement, writing, and creating art to help them relax and connect with their emotions. The waitlist group won’t receive the therapy during the study but will get helpful art materials afterward.

To be eligible, participants need to be at least 18 years old, live in Hong Kong, and be qualified teachers. They should also be able to read Chinese. Those currently receiving psychological treatment for stress or burnout, or who have recently changed their mood-related medications, will not be eligible to participate. Throughout the study, all participants will complete questionnaires to track their stress, burnout, and overall well-being, both before and after the therapy sessions, and again four weeks later. This trial aims to see if this creative approach can effectively help teachers manage their stress and improve their mental health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Hong Kong residents aged \>/=18
• • 2. Able to read Chinese (verbal expression in Chinese or English)
• • 3. With qualified teaching cert. (degree holder)
• • 4. Willing to provide informed consent and comply with the trial protocol
• • 5. Teacher work in primary or secondary school in Hong Kong
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Current involvement in psychological treatment program for stress and / or burnout reduction
• • 2. A change in psychotropic drugs or over-the-counter medications that target mood within 2 weeks before the baseline assessment
• • 3. A Patient Health Questionnair-9 (PHQ-9) item 9 score \> 2 indicating a serious level of suicidal risk

Trial Officials