Mindfulness-Oriented Professional Resilience (MOPR) Training to Reduce Compassion Fatigue in Healthcare Workers: A Pilot Study.
Fabio D'Antoni, Alessio Matiz, Cristiano Crescentini
Healthcare January 7, 2025 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13020092 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot pre-post intervention study Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 73 |
| Population | Healthcare professionals (mean age 48.6, SD 9.42) |
| Intervention | arousal modulation techniques |
| Duration | Six weekly sessions |
| Topics | Meditation PTSD |
| Keywords | Resilience Healthcare professionals Self-compassion Compassion fatigue Polyvagal theory Compassion satisfaction Arousal modulation |
| Key points | The MOPR program was associated with significant pre-post improvements in professional quality of life, including increased Compassion Satisfaction and reduced Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress, plus gains in mindfulness skills, arousal regulation, and psychological well-being. The authors suggest it is a promising intervention for healthcare professionals, while noting the need for controlled, longer-term studies. |
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Compassion Fatigue (CF) is a critical issue among healthcare professionals, exacerbated by exposure to trauma and chronic workplace stress. This pilot study evaluates the effectiveness of a Mindfulness-Oriented Professional Resilience (MOPR) program, a structured intervention designed to mitigate CF and enhance resilience in healthcare professionals. The program integrates mindfulness practices, arousal modulation techniques, and resilience-building strategies over six weekly sessions.
Methods: A sample of 73 healthcare workers (mean age 48.6, SD = 9.42) participated in the study, and pre-post data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results: Results indicated significant improvements in professional quality of life, with increased Compassion Satisfaction (p < 0.001) and reductions in Burnout (p = 0.003) and Secondary Traumatic Stress (p < 0.001). Mindfulness skills improved significantly across four dimensions-Observing, Describing, Acting with Awareness, and Non-reactivity-with p-values ranging from <0.01 to <0.001. Arousal modulation showed increased Optimal Arousal Zone scores (p < 0.001) and reduced maladaptive stress responses, including Fight/Flight, Freeze, and Feigned Death (p < 0.05). Psychological well-being improvements were observed, particularly in Self-Acceptance (p = 0.014) and Positive Relations (p = 0.041).
Conclusions: These findings suggest that the MOPR program is a promising intervention for healthcare professionals, supporting resilience and reducing the psychological burden of caregiving. Future controlled studies should explore its long-term efficacy in diverse clinical settings and in larger samples.
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
Cites 6
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on the well-being of healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. General Psychiatry 2024
- Mindfulness-based interventions for improving mental health of frontline healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review. Systematic Reviews June 20, 2024
- The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on the Psychological Functioning of Healthcare Professionals: a Systematic Review Mindfulness September 24, 2020
- A systematic review of the impact of mindfulness on the well-being of healthcare professionals. Journal of Clinical Psychology March 2018
- Mindfulness mediates the physiological markers of stress: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research August 23, 2017
and 1 more in the library