Abstract
BackgroundPrimary care physicians are subjected to a high workload, which can lead to stress and a high incidence of burnout. A mindfulness training course was developed and implemented for primary care physicians to better cope with stress and improve job functioning.AimTo gain insight into the effects of the mindfulness training on perceived stress, self-compassion, and self-reflection of primary care physicians.Design & settingA pragmatic mixed-methods pre–post design in which physicians received 8 weeks of mindfulness training.MethodParticipants completed validated questionnaires on perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS]), self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale [SCS]), and self-reflection (Groningen Reflection Ability Scale [GRAS]) before the training, directly after, and 6 months later. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants after the training and a content analysis was performed to gain in depth understanding of experiences.ResultsA total of 54 physicians participated in the study. PSS was reduced (mean difference [MD] -4.5, P<0.001), SCS improved (MD = 0.5, P<0.001), and GRAS improved (MD = 3.3, P<0.001), directly after the 8-week training compared with before training. Six months later, PSS was still reduced (MD = -2.9, P = 0.025) and SCS improved (MD = 0.7, P<0.001). GRAS did not remain significant (MD = 2.5, P = 0.120). Qualitative analysis revealed four themes: being more aware of their own feelings and thoughts; being better able to accept situations; experiencing more peacefulness; and having more openness to the self and others.ConclusionMindfulness training might be an effective approach for improving stress resilience, self-compassion, and self-reflection in primary care physicians.
Highlights
Primary care physicians are subjected to a high workload, which can lead to stress and a high incidence of burnout
The mindfulness training in this study was based on the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn,[12] but central elements of the MBSR training, such as the seven pillars of mindfulness and the different meditations, were adapted for primary care physicians, to help them to incorporate these exercises in their professional life
This mixed-methods study demonstrated that participation in mindfulness training had beneficial effects for primary care physicians
Summary
Primary care physicians are subjected to a high workload, which can lead to stress and a high incidence of burnout. A mindfulness training course was developed and implemented for primary care physicians to better cope with stress and improve job functioning. Aim: To gain insight into the effects of the mindfulness training on perceived stress, selfcompassion, and self-reflection of primary care physicians. Method: Participants completed validated questionnaires on perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS]), self-compassion (Self-Compassion Scale [SCS]), and self-reflection (Groningen Reflection Ability Scale [GRAS]) before the training, directly after, and 6 months later. PSS was reduced (mean difference [MD] 4.5, P
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