Effects of a Thermal Spa Short Residential Program for Prevention of Work-related Stress / Burn-out on Biomarkers of Stress - A Proof of Concept Study

Work-related stress is a public health issue. Among the multiple physical and psychological consequences of stress, increased mortality and cardiovascular morbidity seem the main concern. The thermal spa resort of Néris-Les-Bains is one of the five spa resorts in France specialized in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders. Among all these resorts proposing a thermal residential program of three weeks, only one thermal spa resort (Saujon) has a program for occupational burn-out. However, a shorter thermal spa residential program seems more compatible with professional context (availability of individuals), and focusing on work-related stress prevention (before the state of burn-out). The main hypothesis is that a short thermal spa residential program (6 days) of work-related stress prevention will exhibit its efficacy through objective measures of well-being and cardiovascular morbidity.