Mindfulness instruction for community-hospital physicians for burnout and patient care: A pilot study
Sheila Hofert, Sean Tackett, Neda F Gould, Erica Ms Sibinga
Journal of Patient Safety and Risk Management December 27, 2019 DOI: 10.1177/2516043519897830 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post study Pilot study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 26 |
| Population | Clinicians at a community hospital |
| Intervention | Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) |
| Duration | 8-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Burnout Community hospital Patient safety Patient satisfaction Nursing Focus group Clinical psychology Family medicine Health care |
| Citations | 8 |
| Key points | An eight-week MBSR program was associated with significant reductions in personal burnout, client-related burnout, and perceived stress, and improvements in mindfulness and perceived patient care and safety. |
Abstract
BackgroundConcern for the high prevalence and pervasive negative effects of clinician burnout has led to greater focus on clinician wellness programs, such as Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Our goal was to study MBSR feasibility and potential impact on clinician burnout, clinician–patient communication, and patient care and safety at a community hospital. MethodsAn eight-week MBSR program was offered for voluntary participation to clinicians at a community hospital. Pre–post surveys used validated scales and open-ended questions to assess participants’ levels of burnout, stress, mindfulness, communication behaviors, and perceived patient care and safety. T-tests were used to compare pre–post-program scale differences, and qualitative analysis identified themes from open-ended survey items. ResultsA total of 26 clinicians participated. Pre–post ratings showed significant improvements in personal burnout (p < .001), client-related burnout (p = .02), perceived stress (p < .001), and mindfulness (p = .01). Nearly all, 84% reported an improvement in self-care, 68% reported improved patient care, 50% reported improved patient communication, and 29% reported an increase in quality and safety of patient care. Qualitative analysis showed three themes of improvement in: emotional availability of the clinician, shared decision making and partnership with patients, and job satisfaction. ConclusionMBSR in a community hospital was feasible and suggests benefits related to reducing stress and burnout, as well as perceived improvement in clinician’s quality and safety of patient care. Given the serious negative effects of clinician burnout on patients, physicians, and the workplace, implementation of MBSR programs for clinicians should be considered.
Comparable studies
Other non-randomized and open-label trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Early-stage breast and prostate cancer patients | 2003 | Pre-post intervention study | n = 59 |
| Exploring self‐compassion and empathy in the context of mindfulness‐based stress reduction (MBSR) Community sample | 2010 | Pre-post intervention study | |
| Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Lowers Psychological Distress In Medical Students Second-year medical students | 2003 | Prospective nonrandomized cohort-controlled study | n = 302 |
| Intensive meditation training, immune cell telomerase activity, and psychological mediators. Retreat participants and matched controls | 2011 | Controlled trial with wait-list control group | n = 60 |
| The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD and Mindful Parenting for their Parents Children aged 8-12 with ADHD and their parents | 2011 | Within-group waitlist controlled trial | n = 22 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- The effect of a brief mindfulness-based stress reduction program on strengthening awareness of medical errors and risks among nursing students. Nurse Education in Practice July 2023
- Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Doctors’ Mindfulness, Patient Safety Culture, Patient Safety Competency and Adverse Event International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health March 1, 2022
Cites 7
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Association of an Educational Program in Mindful Communication With Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes Among Primary Care Physicians JAMA September 22, 2009
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Professionals: Results From a Randomized Trial. International Journal of Stress Management May 1, 2005
- Association of psychological and physiological measures of stress in health‐care professionals during an 8‐week mindfulness meditation program: mindfulness in practice Stress and Health August 23, 2005
- Prevalence of Mindfulness Practices in the US Workforce: National Health Interview Survey Preventing Chronic Disease December 30, 2016
and 2 more in the library