Exploring the impact of mindfulness meditation training in pre-licensure and post graduate nurses.
Jill Sanko, Mary Mckay, Scott L. Rogers
Nurse Education Today October 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2016.07.006 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pre-post intervention study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Nursing students (pre-licensure) and postgraduate nursing participants |
| Measures | Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI), Defining Issues Test (DIT) version 2 |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Mindfulness meditation training Nursing Students |
| Key points | Mindfulness training improved mindfulness overall and in the postgraduate group but not in the pre-licensure group, and it changed two schemas of moral judgment. The authors conclude that mindfulness training improves mindfulness and some aspects of ethical decision making, while cautioning that further development is needed before broad implementation. |
Abstract
The complex, high stress, technologically laden healthcare environment compromises providers' ability to be fully present in the moment; especially during patient interactions. This "pulling away" of attention (mindlessness) from the present moment creates an environment where decision making can take place in the absence of thoughtful, deliberate engagement in the task at hand. Mindfulness, can be cultivated through a variety of mindfulness practices. Few schools of nursing or hospitals offer mindfulness training, despite study findings supporting its effectiveness in improving levels of mindfulness, and perceived connections with patients and families. A mindfulness program developed for this study and tailored to nursing was used to provide the mindfulness training. Pre and post training assessments were completed and included administration of the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI) and the Defining Issues Test (DIT) of moral judgment version 2. A statistically significant improvement in the FMI scores p=0.003 was found. The pre-licensure group did not show a statistically significant improvement in their FMI scores pre to post training (p=0.281), however the post graduate group did (p=0.004). Statistically significant pre - post scores were found in two schemas of the DIT-2 (P [Post conventional] score, p=0.039 and N2 [Maintaining norms] score, p=0.032). Mindfulness training improves mindfulness and some aspects of ethical decision making in the groups studied as part of this project. The findings of this study are promising and further demonstrate the merits of a mindfulness practice, however aspects of mindfulness training would need to be addressed prior to launching a full scale attempt to incorporate this into a work life or some other quality improvement program.
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
Cited by 12
- The effect of a mindfulness-based intervention on stress overload, depression, and mindfulness among nurses: A randomized controlled trial. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing February 1, 2024
- The Influence of Mindfulness on the Decreasing Anxiety in Nursing Students to Support Academic Learning: A Literature Review Holistic Nursing and Health Science July 10, 2018
- Centering: An Antidote for Stress and Catalyst for Learning Advances in Complementary & Alternative Medicine May 11, 2018
- The Effect of a Mindfulness Course on Self-Compassion Among Occupational Therapy Students Mindfulness October 1, 2024
- Mindfulness for stress and anxiety management in nursing students in a clinical simulation: A quasi-experimental study. Nurse Education in Practice December 1, 2022
and 7 more in the library
Cites 17
- Association of an Educational Program in Mindful Communication With Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes Among Primary Care Physicians JAMA September 22, 2009
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Professionals: Results From a Randomized Trial. International Journal of Stress Management May 1, 2005
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction in Relation to Quality of Life, Mood, Symptoms of Stress, and Immune Parameters in Breast and Prostate Cancer Outpatients Psychosomatic Medicine July 1, 2003
- A systematic review of neurobiological and clinical features of mindfulness meditations Psychological Medicine November 27, 2009
- The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Holistic Nursing Practice November 1, 2004
and 12 more in the library