title: Stress, self-esteem and well-being among female health professionals: A randomized clinical trial on the impact of a self-care intervention mediated by the senses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stress levels are evident among health professionals. However, there are few studies on sensory-based self-care aimed at stress management, self-esteem and subjective well-being in this group of professionals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the impact of a self-care intervention mediated by the senses on the stress levels, self-esteem and well-being of health professionals in a hospital environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 93 health professionals participated in an unblinded clinical trial, randomized into four groups: 1) control (no intervention); 2) Monosensory-daily body moisturizing (DBM) with odorless cream; 3) Bisensory-DBM with scented cream; 4) Multisensory-DBM with scented cream associated with audiovisual material. Participants answered specific questionnaires to assess stress, self-esteem and well-being and cortisol samples were collected at baseline, 15 and 30 days following intervention, and at the 30-day follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-care was characterized as neglected, with most participants reporting inadequate hours of sleep (74%), irregular physical activity (68%), and inadequate nutrition (45%). Compared to the other groups, the Bisensory group had lower stress on all three assessments (p = 0.017; 0.012; 0.036), a life satisfaction 8% higher at follow-up than at baseline (95% CI: 2% to 15%, p = 0.016), a 10% increase in positive affect (95% CI: 2% to 19%, p = 0.011) and a 12% reduction in negative affect (95% CI: 3% to 21% less, p = 0.014) after 30 days. The Multisensory group showed improvement in self-esteem (p = 0.012) and reduced cortisol (p = 0.036) after 30 days of intervention. The control group showed no changes in the variables studied, except for cortisol: an increase at the 15-day evaluation (denoting higher risk for stress, p = 0.009) and a reduction at follow-up (p = 0.028), which was nevertheless within normal levels.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02406755.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliseth Ribeiro
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0352-0549
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Leão
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Reis
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Dal Fabbro
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rebeca Barqueiro de
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ingrid Ribeiro Dos
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elivane da Silva
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.affiliation: University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita Lacerda
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Aquarone
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane Benvenuto
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Israeli Faculty of Heath Sciences Albert Einstein, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vivian Finotti
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Quality and Safety, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roselaine Coelho de
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Natura Cosméticos, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Friedlander
authors.affiliation: Natura Cosméticos, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daniela Santos
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002055:Burnout, Professional; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases; D012306:Risk; D012648:Self Care; D012649:Self Concept; D012677:Sensation; D063465:Skin Cream; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone