Does the intervention of mindfulness reduce levels of burnout and compassion fatigue and increase resilience in pre-registration students? A pilot study.
M Clarkson, G Heads, D Hodgson, H Probst
Radiography February 2019 DOI: 10.1016/j.radi.2018.08.003 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Non-randomized controlled study Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 14 |
| Population | Pre-registration therapeutic radiography students |
| Intervention | Mindfulness |
| Duration | Five-week mindfulness course; follow-up at baseline, week five, month three, and 12 months after the start of the study |
| Measures | MBI-SS |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Burnout Compassion fatigue Radiotherapy students Resilience |
| Key points | No statistically significant differences were found between the mindfulness and control arms, though other measures showed positive trends. The MBI-SS indicated that 29% of the sample experienced emotional exhaustion and 43% increased cynicism. The authors argue that burnout affected almost a third of the study sample and that further investigation of contributing factors in this student population is warranted. |
Abstract
In the current clinical working environment it is important that therapeutic radiography students are fully prepared not just clinically but emotionally for a working professional life. Mindfulness has shown promise, as a self-care strategy, in the improvement of burnout, resilience and compassion fatigue in other professions; however, it has not been used with therapeutic radiography students. Eight pre-registration therapeutic radiography students were recruited to undergo a five week mindfulness course; six students from the year below were recruited to act as a control arm (no mindfulness). Data was collected using a series of validated tools at baseline, week five, month three and 12 months after the start of the study: RESULTS: The MBI-SS scale demonstrated 29% of the sample experienced emotional exhaustion and 43% increased cynicism. The other tools showed a positive trend with the intervention; however, these were not statistically significant. Although no statistically significant differences were demonstrated between the study arms, some interesting trends have been noted. The key finding was the identification of burnout experienced by almost a third of the study sample. This suggests that a new area of study is warranted to further investigate the factors contributing to burnout in the student population.
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
- A Systematic Review of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Its Effects on Mental Health and Academic Performance in University Students The Open Psychology Journal July 21, 2025
- The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on alleviating academic burnout in medical students: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health May 27, 2024
- The search for scientific meaning in mindfulness research: Insights from a scoping review. PLoS One May 4, 2022
Cites 4
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- Does mindfulness decrease stress and foster empathy among nursing students? Journal of Nursing Education July 2004
- Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on medical and premedical students. Journal of Behavioral Medicine December 1998