A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for pediatric hematology-oncology professionals did not change biological stress (hair cortisol concentrations), but improved self-reported measures of perceived stress, psychological distress, and burnout. Effects were maintained over three months for psychological distress, anxiety, depression, and burnout. Larger improvements occurred among participants who attended a retreat and those with higher baseline perceived stress.
A mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programme was feasible and acceptable in two proof-of-concept studies with students and healthcare professionals. Completing the 8-week programme was associated with improvements in perspective taking, identifying one's own emotions, and emotional acceptance, with a median effect size of Cohen's d = 0.92. Effects were maintained at 3-month follow-up in the professional group for identifying one's own emotions, emotional acceptance, expressive suppression, and emotion recognition. No significant signal was found for identifying others' emotions or empathic concern. The authors argue these results justify moving toward efficacy trials using these outcomes.
A systematic review of 39 studies on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for healthcare providers found that MBSR is associated with improvements in burnout, stress, anxiety, and depression. Only 14 of the 39 studies measured empathy or emotional competencies. Evidence suggests improvements in empathy, but no clear evidence is currently available on emotional competencies such as identifying one's own emotions, identifying others' emotions, and emotional acceptance. High-quality evidence supports MBSR's effect on professionals' mental health, but capacities central to care remain scarcely studied.