Heal the Healers: A pilot study evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and exploratory efficacy of a Transcendental Meditation intervention for emergency clinicians during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Journal of the American College of Emergency Physicians Open

Guohai Zhou¹  Mohammad Adrian Hasdianda²  Lily Johnsky²  Dana Im²  Desiree R. Azizoddin²  Noelia Kvaternik²  Meghan Beck²  Peter R. Chai²  Edward W. Boyer²  Natasha Jones³ 

[1] Center for Clinical Investigation Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston Massachusetts USA;Department of Emergency Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston Massachusetts USA;Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard University Cambridge USA;

关键词: burnout;    clinician intervention;    covid‐19;    meditation;    nurse burnout;    PA burnout;   

DOI  :  10.1002/emp2.12619

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Objective Emergency clinicians face elevated rates of burnout that result in poor outcomes for clinicians, patients, and health systems. The objective of this single‐arm pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of a Transcendental Meditation (TM) intervention for emergency clinicians during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and to explore the potential effectiveness in improving burnout, sleep, and psychological health. Methods Emergency clinicians (physicians, nurses, and physician‐assistants) from 2 urban hospitals were recruited to participate in TM instruction (8 individual or group in‐person and remote sessions) for 3 months. Session attendance was the primary feasibility outcome (prespecified as attending 6/8 sessions), and burnout was the primary clinical outcome. Participant‐reported measures of feasibility and validated measures of burnout, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and stress were collected at baseline and the 1‐month and 3‐month follow‐ups. Descriptive statistics and linear mixed‐effects models were used. Results Of the 14 physicians (46%), 7 nurses (22%), and 10 physician‐assistants (32%) who participated, 61% were female (n = 19/32). TM training and at‐home meditation practice was feasible for clinicians as 90.6% (n = 29/32) attended 6/8 training sessions and 80.6% self‐reported meditating at least once a day on average. Participants demonstrated significant reductions in burnout (P < .05; effect sizes, Cohen's d = 0.43–0.45) and in symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep disturbance (P values < .001; Cohen's d = 0.70–0.87). Conclusion TM training was feasible for emergency clinicians during the COVID‐19 pandemic and led to significant reductions in burnout and psychological symptoms. TM is a safe and effective meditation tool to improve clinicians’ well‐being.

【 授权许可】

Unknown