Mindfulnessfor Healthcare Providers

Objective: Emergency Medicalservice (EMS) providers are systematically subjected to intense stimuli in their work that may result in distress and emotional suffering. While it is known that mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) helps to foster well-being in healthcare workers, the effectiveness of MBSR among EMS providers is less understood. We explored the impact of a modified version of MBSR for healthcare workers called Mindfulnessfor Healthcare Providers (MHP) on reducing distress and promoting wellbeing in EMS providers.

Methods: A one-arm pilot study was conducted. We implemented eight two-and-a-half hour sessions of Mindfulnessfor Healthcare Providers with an additional day-long retreat at the end. Feasibility, perceived stress, professional quality of life, and trait Mindfulnesswere assessed prior to and after the intervention. The professional quality of life scale includes measures of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary trauma.

Results: Fifteen veteran EMS providers enrolled in the course; four participants dropped out. Prior to initiation of the study, no significant differences were revealed between those who did not participate (n = 48) and those who did (n = 11). After the intervention EMS providers endorsed statistically significant increases in compassion satisfaction, trait mindfulness, and decreases in burnout compared to the beginning of the program. These changes were sustained at six months post-completion. No significant changes over time were found for secondary trauma or perceived stress.

Conclusions: To our knowledge, this study is the first to employ Mindfulnessfor Healthcare Providers in an EMS population and to demonstrate a positive impact on self-reported compassion, trait mindfulness, and burnout in this population. Additional research regarding Mindfulnesstraining within EMS populations should be conducted to further understand the relationship between Mindfulnessand perceived stress over time.

Rank: 50

First Author: Ducar

Outcome: Stress,Burnout,Mindfulness,PTSD

Outcome p-value: Stress:⭑, Burnout:⭑⭑ , Mindfulness:⭑, PTSD:●

Intervention Category: Mindfulness

Time per Employee (hours): 20

Hours per Employee: 20

D&B Study Quality Rating: 17

Reviewer Confidence: 2

Country: US

Study Design Type: Quasi-experimental

Materials Available to Implement: Intervention outlined in publication. Two experienced MBSR teachers offer the course 4 times per year. Contact John Schorling (JBS7F@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu) and Jennifer Penberthy (JKP2N@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu) for more information. An online course can be accessed at: https://med.virginia.edu/mindfulness-center/programs/free-online-mindfulness-course-for-health-system-employees-fostering-resilience-in-the-time-of-covid-19/. Lead author email: dducar@mgh.harvard.edu

Materials Available: yes

Organiz./Individ. Focus: Individual

Prevention Category: Primary,Secondary

Effect size Small:

Effect size Medium:

Reference: Ducar, D. M., Penberthy, J. K., Schorling, J. B., Leavell, V. A., & Calland, J. F. (2020). Mindfulnessfor healthcare providers fosters professional quality of life and mindful attention among emergency Medicaltechnicians. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 16(1), 61–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2019.07.015