The effect of laughter therapy and mindfulness practices upon nurses' fatigue and job performance perception and attention level

This randomized controlled experimental study aimed to identify the effect of laughter therapy and mindfulness practices upon nurses' fatigue and job performance perception and attention level. The sample study of the study done at a university hospital in Black Sea Region was consisted of 101 nurses 33 nurses in the laughter group, 34 in the mindfulness group and 34 in the control group. Data were gathered using Information Request Form, Chalder Fatigue Scale, Computerized Sustained Attention Test, Stroop Test Çapa Version and Individual Work Performance Qestionnaire. In the study, the relevant practices were provided to the nurses in the laughter and mindfulness groups. No intervention was done to the nurses in the control group. According to the results, fatigue perceptions of the nurses in the laughter and mindfulness groups decreased statistically and significantly as compared to those in the control group (p<0.05). That sustained attention levels of the laughter and mindfulness groups increased in the final test of mild and difficult levels according to control group was statistically found significant (p<0.05). Even though no statistically significant differences were found among Stroop Tests measuring the three groups' selective attention levels (p>0.05), intra-group measurements showed that only time to complete Stroop level B decreased in mid-test and final test statistically in mindfulness group (p<0.05). Besides; statistically significant difference was found among the three groups' task performance, contextual performance, counterproductive performance and total job performance perceptions. This significance was on behalf of laughter and mindfulness groups (p<0.05). As a result, laughter therapy and mindfulness practices decreased nurses' fatigue perceptions while they increased their sustained attention level and individual job performance perceptions. Sustainability of laughter therapy and mindfulness practices can be studied by testing through -for example- reminder practices to be done every two weeks.