[Evaluation of the effectiveness of a Mindfulness and Self-Compassion program to reduce stress and prevent burnout in Primary Care health professionals]

Aten Primaria. 2018 Mar;50(3):141-150. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2017.03.009. Epub 2017 Jun 16.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Mindfulness and Self-Compassion Program on the levels of stress and burnout in Primary Care health professionals.

Design: Randomised, controlled clinical trial.

Participants and setting: Training in Mindfulness was offered to 1,281 health professionals in Navarra (Spain) Primary Care, and 48 of them accepted. The participants were randomly assigned to groups: 25 to the intervention group, and the remaining 23 to the control group.

Intervention: The Mindfulness and Self-Compassion training program consisted of sessions of 2.5chours/week for 8 weeks. The participants had to attend at least 75% of the sessions and perform a daily practical of 45minutes.

Main measurements: The levels of mindfulness, self-compassion, perceived stress, and burnout were measured using four questionnaires before and after the intervention.

Results: After the intervention, the scores of the intervention group improved significantly in mindfulness (P<.001); perceived stress (P<.001); self-compassion: self-kindness P<.001, shared humanity P=.004, mindfulness P=.001; and burnout: emotional fatigue (P=.046). The comparison with the control group showed significant differences in mindfulness (P<.001), perceived stress (P<.001), self-kindness (P<.001) and emotional fatigue (P=.032).

Conclusions: This work suggests that it may be beneficial to encourage mindfulness and self-compassion practices in the health environment.

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de un programa de mindfulness y autocompasión sobre los niveles de estrés y burnout en profesionales sanitarios de atención primaria.

Diseño: Ensayo clínico controlado aleatorizado.

Participantes y emplazamiento: Se ofertó entrenamiento en mindfulness a los 1.281 profesionales sanitarios de atención primaria de Navarra y aceptaron 48. Se asignaron por sorteo 25 participantes al grupo intervención, quedando los 23 restantes en el grupo control.

Intervención: El programa de entrenamiento en mindfulness y autocompasión consistía en sesiones de 2,5 h/semana durante 8 semanas, a las que había que asistir al menos al 75% de las sesiones y realizar una práctica diaria de 45 min.

Mediciones principales: Antes-después de la intervención se midieron mediante cuatro cuestionarios los niveles de mindfulness, autocompasión, estrés percibido y burnout.

Resultados: Tras la intervención, las puntuaciones del grupo intervención mejoran significativamente en mindfulness (p < 0,001); estrés percibido (p < 0,001); autocompasión: auto-amabilidad p < 0,001, humanidad compartida p = 0,004, mindfulness p = 0,001; y burnout: cansancio emocional (p = 0,046). La comparación respecto al grupo control muestra diferencias significativas en mindfulness (p < 0,001), estrés percibido (p < 0,001), auto-amabilidad (p < 0,001) y cansancio emocional (p < 0,032).

Conclusiones: Este trabajo sugiere que puede ser beneficioso impulsar las prácticas de mindfulness y autocompasión en el ámbito sanitario.

Keywords: Atención primaria; Autocompasión; Burnout; Estrés; Health professionals; Mindfulness; Primary care; Profesionales sanitarios; Self-compassion; Stress.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Burnout, Professional / prevention & control*
  • Empathy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mindfulness*
  • Occupational Stress / prevention & control*
  • Primary Health Care*
  • Treatment Outcome