Ram V, Bhakta JP, Roesch S, Millegan J. Reducing Stress and Burnout in Military Healthcare Professionals Through Mind-Body Medicine: A Pilot Program.
Mil Med 2021;
188:e1140-e1149. [PMID:
34626185 DOI:
10.1093/milmed/usab389]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
A 6-week mindfulness training course, the Mind-Body Medicine (MBM) pilot program for staff, was implemented at a large military treatment facility to examine the preliminary efficacy of the program in reducing stress and burnout in military healthcare professionals.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted of data collected from a single-arm prospective MBM pilot program. The program was designed to help staff members increase their awareness of burnout and its consequences and to learn how to utilize mindfulness-based self-care practices as a means for reducing stress and preventing burnout at work. Participants attended a 2-hour MBM group each week for a total duration of 6 weeks. Assessments of stress, resilience, anxiety, somatic symptoms, functional impairment, sleep quality, quality of life, and burnout were administered at baseline (T1), upon completion of the 6-week program (T2), and at least 3 months after program completion (T3). Multilevel modeling was used as the primary statistical model to assess changes in outcomes. Fifty-nine staff members completed assessments at T1, 31 (52.5%) at T2, and 17 (28.8%) at T3.
RESULTS
Participants showed improvements on scores of perceived stress, resilience, anxiety, somatic symptoms, quality of life, and burnout variables from T1 to T2 and from T1 to T3 (P < .05). Additionally, they reported improvements in their knowledge, understanding, and utilization of MBM concepts and practices from T1 to T2 and from T1 to T3 (P < .05).
CONCLUSIONS
Results from this pilot suggest that the MBM program has the potential to reduce occupational stress and burnout and improve well-being in military healthcare professionals.
Collapse