Mind-Body Skills Training for Resident Wellness: A Pilot Study of a Brief Mindfulness Intervention.
Laura E Romcevich, Suzanne Reed, Stacy R Flowers, Kathi J Kemper, John D Mahan
Journal of medical education and curricular development 2018 DOI: 10.1177/2382120518773061 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Pediatric resident physicians at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio |
| Interventions | Mind-body skills training (MBST) online modules |
| Duration | Up to four 90-minute sessions over 1 month, with optional monthly maintenance sessions for 6 months and follow-up at 6 months |
| Measures | Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Cohen's Perceived Stress, Smith's Brief Resilience, Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised, Neff's Self-Compassion Scale (NSS) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Wellness Resident education Burnout |
| Key points | A brief peer-led mind-body skills training course was feasible for pediatric residents, with significant post-intervention improvement in positive attitude, perceived stress, and resilience, and significant improvement in depersonalization and mindfulness at six-month follow-up. More than 75% of participants found the course worthwhile. The authors suggest this format may be a practical way to offer resilience and stress management training to busy residents. |
Abstract
Background: Interventions to address burnout include mind-body skills training (MBST), but few studies have evaluated the feasibility of MBST for busy pediatric residents.
Objective: In this pilot study, we tested the feasibility of a brief MBST intervention, using in-person peer-led training supported by online modules, to decrease stress and burnout in pediatric resident physicians.
Methods: Of 99 (10%) residents, 10 residents at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio participated in up to four 90-minute MBST sessions more than 1 month, led by a co-resident with 5 years of informal training in mind-body skills. Participants were offered 8 assigned online modules through OSU Center for Integrative Health and Wellness. Measures including Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Cohen's Perceived Stress, Smith's Brief Resilience, Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised, and Neff's Self-Compassion Scale (NSS) were administered before (T1) and after (T2) the course. Participants were offered optional monthly "maintenance" sessions for 6 months and completed a third set of measures at this follow-up (T3).
Results: The residents completed an average of 4.3/8 online modules and attended an average of 2.8/4 in-person sessions. There was significant improvement in positive attitude, perceived stress, and resilience post intervention (T2). Follow-up evaluation (T3) also demonstrated significant improvement in burnout (depersonalization) and mindfulness. More than 75% of participants found the course worthwhile.
Conclusions: A short mixed-method mindfulness-based skills course may be a practical way to offer resilience and stress management training to busy resident physicians.
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 8
- Breath-Body-Mind Core Techniques to Manage Medical Student Stress. Journal of medical education and curricular development 2023
- A tailored online mindfulness intervention for junior doctors: a mixed-methods study BMC Medical Education August 12, 2026
- Brief mindfulness-based intervention to improve clinician mindful behaviours and well-being at two US hospitals: a randomised controlled, mixed methods trial BMJ Quality & Safety June 25, 2026
- Resident Physician Perspectives on Mindfulness Education in Residency: A Multispecialty Qualitative Assessment of Clinical Care Impact. J Grad Med Educ June 14, 2023
- Hybrid Delivery of Mindfulness Meditation and Perceived Stress in Pediatric Resident Physicians: A Randomized Clinical Trial of In-Person and Digital Mindfulness Meditation. Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings June 2023
and 3 more in the library
Cites 5
- Association of an Educational Program in Mindful Communication With Burnout, Empathy, and Attitudes Among Primary Care Physicians JAMA September 22, 2009
- Brief Online Focused Attention Meditation Training: Immediate Impact Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine July 1, 2017
- Online Training in Specific Meditation Practices Improves Gratitude, Well-Being, Self-Compassion, and Confidence in Providing Compassionate Care Among Health Professionals. Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine April 1, 2017
- A pilot feasibility study of a peer-led mindfulness program for medical students. Canadian Medical Education Journal March 31, 2016
- Embodied health: the effects of a mind-body course for medical students. Medical education online April 30, 2013