Hybrid Delivery of Mindfulness Meditation and Perceived Stress in Pediatric Resident Physicians: A Randomized Clinical Trial of In-Person and Digital Mindfulness Meditation.
Denise R Purdie, Myke Federman, Alan Chin, Diana Winston, Brenda Bursch, Richard Olmstead, Yonca Bulut, Michael R. Irwin
Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings June 2023 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-022-09896-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 66 |
| Population | Pediatric residents |
| Duration | 6-week intervention with post-intervention assessment |
| Measures | Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory-9, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Burnout Digital Resident education Stress Well-being |
| Registration | NCT03613441 |
| Key findings | A hybrid mindfulness intervention (one in-person session plus six weeks of digital Mindful Awareness Practices) was associated with a significant reduction in perceived stress among pediatric residents compared with wait-list controls, with a between-group mean difference of 2.20 points on the Perceived Stress Scale (95% CI 0.47-3.93; effect size 0.91). No significant group differences were detected on secondary outcomes including burnout, depression, anxiety, loneliness, or sleep quality. |
Abstract
Physicians are experiencing epidemic levels of work-related stress and burnout. Determine efficacy of mindfulness meditation delivered as a hybrid (in-person and digital) format to reduce perceived stress in pediatric residents. Pediatric residents (n = 66) were block randomized to a hybrid Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) intervention, comprised of one in-person 60-min session and 6-week access to a digitally delivered MAPs curriculum (n = 27) or wait-list control (n = 39). Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was administered at baseline and post-intervention as the primary outcome measure. A priori secondary outcomes were measured using the Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory-9, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. After the first session, 58% participated at least one digital session (M = 2.0; SD = 1.3). MAPs participants showed significant decrease in PSS compared to controls, with between-group mean difference of 2.20 (95% CI 0.47-3.93) at post-intervention (effect size 0.91; 0.19-1.62). No secondary outcome group differences were detected. Exposure to a hybrid mindfulness intervention was associated with improvement in perceived stress among pediatric residents.Trial Registration: NCT03613441.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions on the well-being of healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. General Psychiatry 2024
- Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Nurse Burnout February 1, 2023
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of effects of standalone digital mindfulness-based interventions on sleep in adults. NPJ Digital Medicine December 3, 2025
- Five Practical Video Modules to Reduce Physician Burnout Through Mindfulness and Systematic Review of Evidence Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open August 26, 2025
Cites 11
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- Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being JAMA Internal Medicine January 6, 2014
- Mindfulness Meditation and Improvement in Sleep Quality and Daytime Impairment Among Older Adults With Sleep Disturbances JAMA Internal Medicine February 16, 2015
- Feasibility of Formal Mindfulness-Based Stress-Resilience Training Among Surgery Interns JAMA Surgery August 30, 2018
- A mindfulness meditation mobile app improves depression and anxiety in adults with sleep disturbance: Analysis from a randomized controlled trial General Hospital Psychiatry September 11, 2021
and 6 more in the library