Acceptability and perceived effectiveness of a single-session mindfulness intervention for medical residents

Dana Carsley,Richard Montoro,Nancy Heath,Isabel Sadowski,Stella Miller

doi:10.11157/fohpe.v21i3.399

Abstract

Introduction: Medical residents report high levels of stress, with many work-related demands contributing to their experience of heightened stress. Mindfulness training has been suggested as a beneficial strategy for stress management with residents; however, many mindfulness programs are time-consuming, and compliance with conventional mindfulness training programs becomes challenging given the intense, competing time commitments of residency. The present study sought to evaluate the acceptability and perceived effectiveness of a single-session, mindfulness-based stress management workshop for medical residents.Methods: Residents (n = 142) from family medicine, internal medicine and general surgical residency programs participated in a 1.5-hour mindfulness workshop in 2016 and completed: a measure of workshop satisfaction immediately post-workshop; a measure of adherence to suggested strategies 4–6 weeks post-workshop; and measures of stress, mindfulness and positive and negative affect immediately post-workshop and 4–6 weeks post-workshop.Results: Results revealed high levels of satisfaction with the workshop. Participants who used the recommended strategies over the 4 to 6-week post-workshop period reported significant increases in mindfulness and significant decreases in stress at follow-up.Conclusions: Results suggest single-session mindfulness training can be beneficial for residents who use the strategies effectively; however, ensuring strategy use following training is challenging. Future research is needed to investigate facilitators and barriers to strategy use.

Highlights

Medical residents report high levels of stress, with many work-related demands contributing to their experience of heightened stress
Given that the brief programs were targeted towards medical students, the overarching objective of the present study was to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a single-session mindfulness-based stress management workshop for medical residents
Of the 142 residents who consented to participate in the workshop, 106 participants completed the post-workshop measures, and 51 of these completed follow-up measures. (n = 51; 53.3% female; Mage = 28.55 years, SD = 4.21)

Summary

Introduction

Medical residents report high levels of stress, with many work-related demands contributing to their experience of heightened stress. Medical residents are reporting high levels of stress, with work-related demands contributing to this experienced stress (Anagnostopoulos et al, 2015; Dyrbye & Shanafelt, 2016; Dyrbye et al, 2014; National Physician Survey, 2012; Prins, GazendamDonofrio, et al, 2007). Residents’ experienced stress has been shown to be related to other negative outcomes, such as decreased empathy for patients (Bellini et al, 2002; Bellini & Shea, 2005; Mangione et al, 2002) and a decrease in patient safety (e.g., late timing of patient discharge, limited attention and time for patients) (Anagnostopoulos et al, 2015; Prins, van der Heijden, et al, 2009). To limit the overwhelming stress residents experience and the associated negative outcomes, it is critical to find methods to limit residents’ stress and support their wellbeing, in addition to their patients’ wellbeing

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion