A Yoga-Based Program Decreases Physician Burnout in Neonatologists and Obstetricians at an Academic Medical Center

Background: Nearly half of U.S. pediatricians have symptoms of burnout. This pilot study examined the feasibility of a 6-week yoga-based program (RISE) for neonatologists and obstetricians at Brigham and Women's Hospital and studied the effects on burnout, professional fulfillment, and psychological health.

Methods: Participants were recruited via email to participate either in both program and research study, or exclusively the program. RISE was delivered 1 hour/week during the workday for 6 consecutive weeks either in-person or remotely; 18 physicians participated, 12 completed post-program, and 11 completed 2-month follow-up. The questionnaires assessed burnout and measures of psychological health, professional fulfillment, work exhaustion, interpersonal disengagement/burnout (PFI), mindfulness (FFMQ), perceived stress (PSS), positive/negative affect (PANAS), resilience (RS), anxiety/depression/sleep disturbances (PROMIS), at baseline, post-program, and 2 months after RISE.

Findings: Average attendance in-person was 2.8 sessions and remotely 1.4 sessions (4.2/6 sessions). Participants demonstrating total burnout reduced from 50.0% at baseline to 9.1% post-program. Participants demonstrating professional fulfillment were 8.3% at baseline and 27.3% post-program. Paired samples t-tests revealed statistically significant improvements in burnout, professional fulfillment, interpersonal disengagement, stress, resilience, anxiety, and depression at post-program compared with baseline (N = 12, all ps < .05). At 2-month follow-up, statistically significant improvements in interpersonal disengagement, resilience, and mindfulness (N = 11, all ps < .05) compared with baseline were reported.

Conclusions/application to practice: RISE is feasible within a workday and may address burnout and other psychological health measures in physicians with effects potentially sustainable over 2 months. Occupational health practitioners in health care should consider this type of intervention for their workers.