The Effects of the Medical Pause on Physiological Stress Markers among Health Care Providers: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.
Ebru Cayir, Tim Cunningham, Ryne Ackard, Julie Haizlip, Jeongok Logan, Guofen Yan
Western Journal of Nursing Research July 31, 2021 DOI: 10.1177/01939459211027657 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Health care providers |
| Intervention | The Pause |
| Measures | heart rate variability, heart rate, blood pressure |
| Keywords | Humans Data collection Pilot projects Health personnel Stress, physiological Stress response Heart rate variability Health care providers High-fidelity simulation Contemplative practices The pause |
| Key findings | After a stressful high-fidelity medical simulation, health care providers who practiced The Pause had a heart rate variability indicator 13.8 points higher (95% CI 4.0, 23.5) than controls, with no significant differences in heart rate or blood pressure. The authors suggest The Pause may reduce stress reactivity and enhance resilience. |
Abstract
Contemplative practices promote well-being, work engagement and resilience among health care providers. We examined the impact of The Pause, a brief contemplative intervention, on health care providers' physiological stress response. Participants were randomly assigned to either The Pause or the control group. They participated in a high-fidelity, stressful medical simulation. Following the simulation, intervention group practiced The Pause. Outcome measures were heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure. We adjusted for baseline physiological variables, sociodemographic variables, self-care practices, and perceived stress. Participants in the intervention group had a standard deviation of the normal-to-normal RR intervals (heart rate variability indicator) that was 13.8 (95% CI 4.0, 23.5; p < .01) points higher than those in the control group. There were no significant effects of The Pause on heart rate or blood pressure. The Pause may reduce stress reactivity, increase heart rate variability, and enhance resilience in health care providers.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Incorporating biofeedback into the Mindfulness in Motion Intervention for health care professionals: Impact on sleep and stress. Explore 2024
- Effect of Brief Mindfulness Meditation Interventions on Heart Rate Variability in Adults: A Systematic Review. Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback July 26, 2025
- Bearing Witness to the Anthropocene: A Contemplative Interbeing Framework for Planetary Health and Nursing Ethics Challenges June 25, 2026
- Preliminary feasibility of mindfulness in motion to improve physiological biomarkers of wellbeing in healthcare providers during dayshift hours Discover Public Health May 25, 2025
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