Does a modified mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) course have the potential to reduce stress and burnout in NHS GPs? Feasibility study
Kate E. Hamilton-West, Tracy Pellatt‐Higgins, Neil Pillai
Primary Health Care Research & Development April 19, 2018 DOI: 10.1017/s1463423618000129 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preliminary uncontrolled evaluation (pre-post cohort) Randomized Qualitative Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 22 |
| Population | National Health Service general practitioners in South East England |
| Intervention | Modified mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) |
| Duration | Eight weekly 2-hour sessions, with follow-up one month (T2) and three months (T3) after the course |
| Measures | Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Citations | 38 |
| Key findings | Among 22 NHS GPs, a modified MBCT course was followed by lower perceived stress and burnout scores at one and three months, with higher personal accomplishment at three months; only 13 participants provided three-month data. Participants reported improved management of work pressures, relaxation, enjoyment of work, and empathy and compassion. The authors describe the findings as promising and call for a randomized controlled trial. |
Abstract
AimTo explore, for the first time, whether a modified mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) course has the potential to reduce stress and burnout among National Health Service (NHS) General Practitioners.
Background: There is a crisis of low morale among NHS GPs, with most describing their workload as 'unmanageable'. MBCT has been demonstrated to improve stress and burnout in other populations, but has not yet been evaluated in a cohort of NHS GPs.
Methods: NHS GPs in South East England (n=22) attended a modified version of the MBCT course approved by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for prevention of depressive relapse. This comprised eight weekly 2-h sessions with homework (mindfulness practice) between sessions. Participants completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) before (baseline) and then again one month (T2) and three months (T3) after attending the course. We also obtained qualitative data on participants' experiences of the course.FindingsCompliance with the intervention was very high. All GPs attended at least six sessions and all completed baseline questionnaires. At T2, data were obtained from 21 participants (95%); PSS scores were significantly lower than at baseline (P<0.001), as were MBI emotional exhaustion (P<0.001) and depersonalization scores (P=0.0421). At T3 we obtained data for 13 participants (59%); PSS scores and MBI emotional exhaustion scores were significantly lower (P<0.001; P=0.0024, respectively) and personal accomplishment scores were significantly higher (P<0.001) than at baseline. Participants reported that the course helped them to manage work pressures, feel more relaxed, enjoy their work and experience greater empathy and compassion (for self, colleagues and patients). Findings of this preliminary evaluation are promising. Further research is needed to evaluate this approach within a larger randomized-controlled trial.
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 3
- The influence of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the work life of healthcare professionals - A qualitative study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice October 1, 2023
- A randomized controlled trial on the comparative effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and health qigong-based cognitive therapy among Chinese people with depression and anxiety disorders BMC Psychiatry December 1, 2020
- The effect of mindfulness training on burnout syndrome in nursing: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing February 5, 2020
Cites 5
- 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 for GPs: results of a controlled mixed methods pilot study in Dutch primary care British Journal of General Practice January 28, 2016
- Evaluación de la efectividad de un programa de mindfulness y autocompasión para reducir el estrés y prevenir el burnout en profesionales sanitarios de atención primaria Atención Primaria June 17, 2017
- Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy compared with maintenance antidepressant treatment in the prevention of depressive relapse or recurrence (PREVENT): a randomised controlled trial The Lancet July 4, 2015
- A randomised controlled trial of the effects of mindfulness practice on medical student stress levels. Med Educ April 1, 2011