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Feasibility of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Surgical Intensive Care Unit Personnel.

Beth Steinberg, Maryanna Klatt, Anne-Marie Duchemin

American Journal of Critical Care December 2016 DOI: 10.4037/ajcc2017444 (opens in new tab)

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Characteristics Randomized controlled trial (pilot feasibility study) Pilot study Peer reviewed
Population Surgical intensive care unit personnel
Interventions mild yoga movement and music
Duration 1 hour a week for 8 weeks; assessments 1 week before and 1 week after the intervention
Measures Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Professional Quality of Life scale
Topics Meditation
Key findings A mindfulness-based group intervention combining meditation, mild yoga movement, and music was feasible in a surgical intensive care unit, with 97% overall retention and 100% retention in the intervention group. Work satisfaction on the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale increased significantly in the intervention group and did not change in controls. Vigor scores correlated negatively with emotional exhaustion and burnout scores.

Abstract

Surgical intensive care unit personnel are exposed to catastrophic situations as they care for seriously injured or ill patients. Few interventions have been developed to reduce the negative effects of work stress in this environment. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of a workplace intervention for increasing resilience to stress. The intervention was implemented within the unique constraints characteristic of surgical intensive care units. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. The mindfulness-based intervention included meditation, mild yoga movement, and music and was conducted in a group format 1 hour a week for 8 weeks in a surgical intensive care unit during work hours. Assessments were performed 1 week before and 1 week after the intervention. The intervention was well received, with a 97% overall retention rate and 100% retention in the intervention group. Work satisfaction, measured with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, increased significantly in the intervention group with no change in the control group. Negative correlations were found between the vigor subscale scores of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale and scores for emotional exhaustion on the Maslach Burnout Inventory and scores for burnout on the Professional Quality of Life scale. Participants rated recognizing their stress response as a main benefit of the intervention. Workplace group interventions aimed at decreasing the negative effects of stress can be applied within hospital intensive care units. Despite many constraints, attendance at weekly sessions was high. Institutional support was critical for implementation of this program.

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

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