A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness to reduce stress and burnout among intern medical practitioners

Introduction: Stress and burnout are highly prevalent among medical doctors, and are associated with negative consequences for doctors, patients, and organizations. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of a mindfulness training intervention in reducing stress and burnout...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical teacher 2017-04, Vol.39 (4), p.409-414
Main Authors: Ireland, Michael J., Clough, Bonnie, Gill, Kim, Langan, Fleur, O'Connor, Angela, Spencer, Lyndall
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Australia
Burnout
Burnout, Professional
Clinical trials
Emergency services
Humans
Internship and Residency
Intervention
Medical education
Medical personnel
Mindfulness
Mindfulness - methods
Physicians
Physicians - psychology
Randomized Controlled Trials
Rotation
Stress
Stress management
Stress, Psychological
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Summary:Introduction: Stress and burnout are highly prevalent among medical doctors, and are associated with negative consequences for doctors, patients, and organizations. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effectiveness of a mindfulness training intervention in reducing stress and burnout among medical practitioners, by means of a Randomised Controlled Trial design. Methods: Participants were 44 intern doctors completing an emergency department rotation in a major Australian hospital. Participants were randomly assigned to either an active control (one hour extra break per week) or the 10-week mindfulness training intervention. Measures of stress and burnout were taken pre-, mid- and post intervention. Results: Participants undergoing the 10-week mindfulness training program reported greater improvements in stress and burnout relative to participants in the control condition. Significant reduction in stress and burnout was observed for participants in the mindfulness condition. No such reductions were observed for participants in the control condition. Conclusions: Mindfulness interventions may provide medical practitioners with skills to effectively manage stress and burnout, thereby reducing their experience of these symptoms. It is likely that doctors would benefit from the inclusion of such a training program as a part of their general medical education.
ISSN:0142-159X
1466-187X
DOI:10.1080/0142159X.2017.1294749