Mindfulness: Assessing the Feasibility of a Pilot Intervention to Reduce Stress and Burnout.
Kate M Montanari, Cassandra L Bowe, Sherry S Chesak, Susanne M Cutshall
Journal of Holistic Nursing June 2019 DOI: 10.1177/0898010118793465 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Single-arm, pre/post test study Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 52 |
| Population | Inpatient medical unit nursing staff |
| Interventions | Guided mindfulness CD soothing sounds machine with a breathing technique instructional mindfulness prompts a journal water/snacks |
| Duration | Six consecutive weekends; pre-intervention baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention |
| Measures | Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), pre/post demographic questionnaires |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Meditation/mindfulness Nurses Stress and coping Stress management/relaxation |
| Key points | The brief mindfulness intervention did not reduce mean Perceived Stress Scale scores, which increased slightly over six weekends, but Maslach Burnout Inventory scores improved for emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Most participants (75%) perceived the intervention as effective or very effective in reducing work stress, and 84.9% were interested in continuing a similar intervention. |
Abstract
To examine the feasibility of a brief mindfulness intervention and to reduce nurse stress and burnout in an inpatient medical unit. Single-arm, pre/post test study design. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and pre/post demographic questionnaires given at pre-intervention (baseline) and 6 weeks post-intervention. Intervention effectiveness was compared between the pre-survey ( N = 52) and post-survey ( N = 33). Five choices were offered to inpatient staff: a guided mindfulness CD, soothing sounds machine with a breathing technique instructional, mindfulness prompts, a journal, and water/snacks during six consecutive weekends. The mean PSS score did not improve and demonstrated a slight increase during the six-weekend intervention. However, mean MBI scores for the subscales of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization did demonstrate improvement as evident by decreased scores. Additionally, the mean MBI score for the subscale of personal accomplishment also improved with increased scores. Qualitative themes were positive and included relaxation, nourishment, and refocus. Majority of participants (75%) perceived the intervention as being effective or very effective in reducing stress at work. Respondents were "interested" or "very interested" in continuing a similar intervention in the future (84.9%). The improvement in scores for the MBI measures were a positive finding. The intervention was low cost, individualized, and accessible. The feasibility and perceptions of the intervention's effectiveness has positive implications for the well-being of nurses.
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 2
- What is the Most Helpful Body‐Scan Posture for People with Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Tendency? Japanese psychological research August 6, 2024
- The effect of mindfulness training on burnout syndrome in nursing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing February 5, 2020
Cites 10
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Health Care Professionals: Results From a Randomized Trial. International Journal of Stress Management May 1, 2005
- The Impact of an Innovative Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on the Health and Well-Being of Nurses Employed in a Corporate Setting Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health April 1, 2013
- Burnout and Mindfulness Self-Compassion in Nurses of Intensive Care Units: Cross-Sectional Study. Holistic Nursing Practice July 1, 2017
- Cultivating Mindfulness to Promote Self-Care and Well-Being in Perioperative Nurses. AORN journal March 2017
- Feasibility of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention for Surgical Intensive Care Unit Personnel. American Journal of Critical Care December 2016
and 5 more in the library