Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Burnout

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

200 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications, so it's unclear. It's best to check with the study team or your doctor for guidance.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for burnout?

Research shows that Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction can help reduce stress and burnout among healthcare professionals, including nurses, by promoting self-care and improving well-being. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction safe for humans?

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) has been studied in various settings and is generally considered safe for humans. It has been shown to improve mental health and reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression without significant adverse effects. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

How does the treatment Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction differ from other treatments for burnout?

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is unique because it focuses on self-care and compassion through mindfulness practices, which involve being aware of the present moment without judgment. Unlike other treatments that may focus on medication or organizational changes, MBSR empowers individuals to manage stress and reduce burnout through personal mindfulness techniques. ^{1 10 11 12 13}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The study team is seeking to evaluate the efficacy of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course at reducing stress and burnout. This will be done through the collection of brief anonymous online surveys (the Perceived Stress Scale and the Mini Z) before the MBSR course and at 2 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months following the end of the course. Participation is completely voluntary and will not affect anyone's ability to take this course, and the course instructors will have no knowledge of who has or has not participated in the study.

Research Team

Jeffrey Zahn, MD

Principal Investigator

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for physicians within The Mount Sinai Hospital System who are experiencing stress and burnout. There are no exclusion criteria, so all physicians in this system are eligible to participate.

Inclusion Criteria

A physician in The Mount Sinai Hospital System

Exclusion Criteria

Not applicable.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2 weeks

MBSR Course

Participants undergo an 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course delivered via Zoom, involving didactics, group discussions, and meditation practices.

8 weeks

Weekly virtual sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for stress and burnout levels using surveys at 2 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months after the course.

12 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of an 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course on reducing medical trainees' and faculty members' stress and burnout levels through surveys taken before, during, and up to one year after the course.

Participant Groups

Group I: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course trainee participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Trainee physicians who have chosen to take the free 8-week course are offered the opportunity to anonymously enroll in the study.

Group II: Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course faculty participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Faculty physicians who have chosen to take the free 8-week course are offered the opportunity to anonymously enroll in the study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Lead Sponsor

Trials

933

Recruited

579,000+

Findings from Research

The mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program significantly helped mental health professionals reduce their work stress and improve their self-care, which in turn enhanced patient care.

Participants in the MBSR program reported increased patient satisfaction and a reduction in patient safety events, indicating a positive impact on both staff well-being and patient outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of mindfulness meditation in promoting a culture of safety on an acute psychiatric unit. Brady, S., O'Connor, N., Burgermeister, D., et al.[2012]

A shortened mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-ld) program over 6 weeks significantly reduced perceived stress and increased mindfulness in healthy working adults, with 22 participants showing notable improvements (p = .0025 and p = .0149, respectively).

The MBSR-ld group also experienced significant improvements in sleep quality (p = .0018), while the wait-list control group showed some improvement as well (p = .0072), indicating that even a brief intervention can have positive effects on stress and well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of low-dose mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-ld) on working adults. Klatt, MD., Buckworth, J., Malarkey, WB.[2023]

Participation in a short-form mindfulness-based stress reduction course significantly reduced anxiety levels in 23 patients, as evidenced by a decrease in scores on the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (from 7.8 to 4.4; P = .005).

The course also led to notable improvements in health-related quality of life, with significant enhancements in various areas such as mental health (+15.6; P < .001) and vitality (+16.1; P = .001), indicating its potential effectiveness in underserved populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-form mindfulness-based stress reduction reduces anxiety and improves health-related quality of life in an inner-city population. Smith, B., Metzker, K., Waite, R., et al.[2022]

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) has been shown to improve mental health and reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression across 31 randomized studies involving both clinical and non-clinical populations.

The implementation of MBSR in the healthcare system is recommended to be gradual, ensuring that MBSR teachers in Denmark receive adequate training and education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effect of mindfulness on symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression]. Fjorback, LO., Rasmussen, BH., Preuss, T.[2019]

The telephonic Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (tMBSR) program significantly improved nurses' health, reduced stress, and decreased burnout over an 8-week period, with effects lasting for at least 4 months after the intervention.

This innovative delivery method makes MBSR more accessible and scalable for healthcare workers, providing a low-cost alternative to traditional in-person sessions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of an Innovative Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on the Health and Well-Being of Nurses Employed in a Corporate Setting. Bazarko, D., Cate, RA., Azocar, F., et al.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on nurse stress and burnout: a quantitative and qualitative study. [2019]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The influence of mindfulness-based stress reduction on the work life of healthcare professionals - A qualitative study. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of mindfulness meditation in promoting a culture of safety on an acute psychiatric unit. [2012]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Use of Mindfulness-Based Interventions to Mitigate Stress and Burnout in Nurses. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A mindfulness course decreases burnout and improves well-being among healthcare providers. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of low-dose mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-ld) on working adults. [2023]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Short-form mindfulness-based stress reduction reduces anxiety and improves health-related quality of life in an inner-city population. [2022]

8. Denmark pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Effect of mindfulness on symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression]. [2019]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of an Innovative Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program on the Health and Well-Being of Nurses Employed in a Corporate Setting. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Quality and Safety in Health Care, Part XLVI: Mindfulness, Meditation, and Burnout. [2019]

11. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Investigating the impact of modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on occupational burnout and other mental health status among nonmedical staff in a hospital: a randomized controlled trial. [2022]

12. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2019]

13. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Testing the Intermediary Role of Perceived Stress in the Relationship between Mindfulness and Burnout Subtypes in a Large Sample of Spanish University Students. [2021]