Does Engagement with Heritage Sites Have the Potential to Improve Sub-clinical Levels of Low Wellbeing in NHS Staff: a Feasibility Study. the HerWellNHS Study (HerWellNHS)

This feasibility study will focus on assessing and identifying the wellbeing effects of self-directed (unmediated) visits to heritage sites for a high-risk population, specifically NHS staff at PHU self-reporting sub-clinical levels of low wellbeing. In particular, it seeks to understand whether wellbeing effects can be derived from unmediated visits to heritage sites, how much exposure to heritage is necessary to experience wellbeing effects, whether and how benefits may be accumulated, how long wellbeing effects may last following visits, and the nature of these wellbeing effects. In addition, it will establish appropriate psychological measures (qualitative and quantitative), test a web-based data collection interface, examine participant choices and their characteristics, and assess participant adherence and response rates prior to developing a clinical trial.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Mental Health Wellness 1
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Access to heritage

Detailed Description

This feasibility study will use quantitative and qualitative psychological measures to examine participant choices of heritage sites and their characteristics, as well as assessing participant adherence and response rates prior to development of a future clinical trial.

It will act as proof of concept, generating a case for the promise of unmediated heritage visits as an effective mental health intervention.

The project will focus on assessing and identifying the wellbeing effects of unmediated visits to heritage sites for NHS staff, and seeks to understand how much exposure to heritage is necessary to experience wellbeing effects, how benefits may be accumulated, how long wellbeing effects may last following a visit, and what the nature of these wellbeing effects may be. The study also seeks to capture the staff experience of engaging with heritage sites, what are the aspects which might result in positive change as a result of the interactions as well if there are any potential risks associated with such interventions.

This project is funded by Historic England. The project partners are as follows: Portsmouth University NHS Hospitals, The Royal Navy National Museum, The Mary Rose Museum, Wessex Archaeology, Portsmouth City Council, Art as Media and the University of Southampton.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 250

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Hampshire
    • Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom, PO6 3LY
      • Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust staff with self-reported sub-optimal levels of wellbeing

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

The participant must meet ALL of the following criteria to be considered eligible for the study:

• Male or Female, aged 18 years or above.
• Self-reported subclinical levels of low wellbeing
• Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.
• NHS Staff at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Exclusion Criteria:

The participant may not enter the study if ANY of the following apply:

• Having been diagnosed with and/or received treatment for any mental health issues in the past 12 months
• Under 18
• Unable to give informed consent for participation in the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Other
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
improve sub-clinical levels of low wellbeing for staff	As a primary objective, this feasibility study aims to determine whether engagement with heritage sites has the potential to improve sub-clinical levels of low wellbeing for staff at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.	Through study completion, an average of 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
What intensity of exposure to heritage is necessary to experience wellbeing effects, and whether and how benefits may be accumulated?	What intensity of exposure to heritage is necessary to experience wellbeing effects, and whether and how benefits may be accumulated?	Through study completion, an average of 6 months
What kinds of wellbeing benefits do staff experience?	What kinds of wellbeing benefits do staff experience?	Through study completion, an average of 6 months
What other 'spin-off' effects might be obtained through improved staff wellbeing via visits to heritage sites?	What other 'spin-off' effects might be obtained through improved staff wellbeing via visits to heritage sites?	Through study completion, an average of 6 months
What factors are related to the wellbeing effects of heritage visits (e.g. exercise, being with other people, duration of visit, type of heritage visit)?	What factors are related to the wellbeing effects of heritage visits (e.g. exercise, being with other people, duration of visit, type of heritage visit)?	Through study completion, an average of 6 months
What is the duration of post-visits effectiveness on wellbeing?	What is the duration of post-visits effectiveness on wellbeing?	Through study completion, an average of 6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
• Collaborators: University of Southampton

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 6, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): May 3, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): January 3, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 13, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 24, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): January 27, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): November 7, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 5, 2024
• Last Verified: November 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: PHU/2022/68

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Data to be pseudo anonymised where possible and only available to thre research team

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No