Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing burnout among medical residents.
Results Summary
The study found no significant reduction in emotional exhaustion (primary outcome) but reported modest improvements in personal accomplishment, worry, mindfulness skills, self-compassion, and perspective-taking. Residents with higher baseline emotional exhaustion showed greater benefits.
Population
Medical, surgical, and primary care residents (self-referred).
Effective Dosage
Eight weekly 2.5-hour sessions and one 6-hour silent day.
Duration
Approximately 3 months.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | no change | emotional exhaustion | residents | no significant difference | No significant difference | #1 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | personal accomplishment | residents | p = 0.028, d = 0.24 | significantly greater improvements | #2 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | decrease | worry | residents | p = 0.036, d = 0.23 | significantly greater improvements | #3 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | mindfulness skills | residents | p = 0.010, d = 0.33 | significantly greater improvements | #4 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | self-compassion | residents | p = 0.010, d = 0.35 | significantly greater improvements | #5 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | increase | perspective-taking (empathy) | residents | p = 0.025, d = 0.33 | significantly greater improvements | #6 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | no change | the other measures | residents | no effects | No effects were found | #7 |
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) | decrease | emotional exhaustion | residents with greater baseline emotional exhaustion | - | did seem to benefit | #8 |
BACKGROUND: Burnout is highly prevalent in residents. No randomized controlled trials have been conducted measuring the effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on burnout in residents. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of MBSR in reducing burnout in residents. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial comparing MBSR with a waitlist control group. PARTICIPANTS: Residents from all medical, surgical and primary care disciplines were eligible to participate. Participants were self-referred. INTERVENTION: The MBSR consisted of eight weekly 2.5-h sessions and one 6-h silent day. MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was the emotional exhaustion subscale of the Dutch version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey. Secondary outcomes included the depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment subscales of burnout, worry, work-home interference, mindfulness skills, self-compassion, positive mental health, empathy and medical errors. Assessment took place at baseline and post-intervention approximately 3 months later. KEY RESULTS: Of the 148 residents participating, 138 (93%) completed the post-intervention assessment. No significant difference in emotional exhaustion was found between the two groups. However, the MBSR group reported significantly greater improvements than the control group in personal accomplishment (p = 0.028, d = 0.24), worry (p = 0.036, d = 0.23), mindfulness skills (p = 0.010, d = 0.33), self-compassion (p = 0.010, d = 0.35) and perspective-taking (empathy) (p = 0.025, d = 0.33). No effects were found for the other measures. Exploratory moderation analysis showed that the intervention outcome was moderated by baseline severity of emotional exhaustion; those with greater emotional exhaustion did seem to benefit. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our primary outcome analysis did not support the effectiveness of MBSR for reducing emotional exhaustion in residents. However, residents with high baseline levels of emotional exhaustion did appear to benefit from MBSR. Furthermore, they demonstrated modest improvements in personal accomplishment, worry, mindfulness skills, self-compassion and perspective-taking. More research is needed to confirm these results.