Effect of GiriPahal, a Brief Team-embedded Intervention, on Perceived Psychosocial Well-being Among NICU Healthcare Professionals
Pushpang Suman, S. Shubham, Naini Puri, I Thanga Sabaresh, Girish Gupta
Journal of Neonatology June 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/09732179261452418 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective interventional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 30 |
| Population | NICU healthcare professionals (7 doctors and 23 nurses) at a tertiary-level teaching institute in North India |
| Interventions | Anulom Vilom pranayama Bhramari breathing |
| Duration | 6 months (April-September 2024); baseline after first day of intervention exposure, follow-up at 6 months |
| Measures | 20-item questionnaire rated on a four-point Likert scale (score range 20-80) |
| Key points | Mean psychosocial well-being scores improved from 26.00 at baseline to 44.27 at 6 months, an 18.27-point gain that was statistically significant (P < .001) with a large effect size (Cohen's d = 1.73). The authors conclude that the brief daily GiriPahal routine appears feasible and acceptable and was associated with improved self-reported workplace well-being. |
Abstract
Burnout, occupational stress, and reduced workplace belongingness among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) professionals are increasingly recognized as significant concerns that may adversely affect staff well-being and patient safety. Many existing interventions are resource-intensive, difficult to sustain, or lack cultural contextualization within routine clinical practice. To evaluate the impact of a brief, team-embedded daily intervention (GiriPahal) on perceived psychosocial well-being among NICU healthcare professionals. A prospective interventional study was conducted at a tertiary-level teaching institute in North India over 6 months (April-September 2024). Thirty NICU healthcare professionals (7 doctors and 23 nurses; male-to-female ratio of 12:18) participated. The GiriPahal intervention consisted of a structured 7-min daily routine incorporating recitation of professional vows, Anulom Vilom pranayama, Bhramari breathing, and guided meditation, performed prior to clinical rounds. Perceived psychosocial impact was assessed using a 20-item questionnaire rated on a four-point Likert scale (score range: 20-80). Baseline assessment was conducted after the first day of intervention exposure, with follow-up assessment at 6 months. Pre–post differences were analyzed using a paired t -test, and effect size was calculated using Cohen’s d . The mean baseline questionnaire score was 26.00 ± 11.45, which improved to 44.27 ± 9.61 at 6 months. The mean improvement of 18.27 points was statistically significant ( P < .001). A large effect size was observed (Cohen’s d = 1.73), indicating a clinically meaningful improvement. GiriPahal appears feasible and acceptable to NICU healthcare professionals and was associated with improvements in self-reported perceptions of workplace well-being over 6 months. Brief, culturally contextualized, workflow-integrated interventions may offer a feasible strategy for enhancing staff well-being in high-intensity clinical environments.