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

Abstract

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.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Glossary

Burnout: may be conceptualized as a specific form of occupational stress. It is the chronic depletion of energy as a result of the ongoing emotional demands associated with one’s occupation. Although a number of definitions of burnout exist, the most widely used conceptualization is Maslach’s three component model of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced feelings of personal accomplishment (1–5).

1. Schaufeli WB, Maslach C, Marek T (Eds). 1993. Historical and conceptual development of burnout. In: Professional burnout: recent developments in theory and research. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis; p. 1–16.

2. Shanafelt TD, Boone S, Tan L, et al. 2012. Burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance among US physicians relative to the general US population. Arch Internal Med. 172:1377–1385.

3. Schaufeli WB, Leiter MP, Maslach C. 2009. Burnout: 35 years of research and practice. Career Dev Int. 14:204–220.

4. Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. 1986. Maslach burnout inventory. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

5. Ireland M. J., Clough G. A., O'Connor A., Langan F., Spencer L. Gill K. 2017. A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness to reduce stress and burnout among intern medical practitioners. Med Teach.

Notes on contributors

Michael J. Ireland, Ph.D., is a Behavioral Scientist and Lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. His research interests are resilience, psychometrics, and mindfulness/emotion regulation.

Bonnie A. Clough, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Southern Queensland, Australia. She practices and researches within the areas of adult mental health, resiliency, and the integration of technology into clinical practice.

Kim Gill, MBChB, FACEM, Grad Cert Medical Education, Vocational Grad Cert Simulation Healthcare, is a Senior Staff Specialist in Emergency Medicine at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. She has a strong interest in caring for those that care. Educating and practicing mindfulness to promote resilience, excellence and longevity.

Fleur Langan, B.Ed., is a former primary school teacher who is currently a Medical Education Officer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Angela O’Connor, Ph.D., is a former health and physical education teacher who is currently a Medical Education Officer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital working with junior doctors.

Lyndall Spencer, Ph.D., is a registered nurse who has had an extensive career in clinical, academic and managerial roles. She has worked in three Australian states, London and Hong Kong and her current research interest is in research ethics.