Quality Improvement: Increasing Mindfulness Exercise To Prevent Burnout in Providers in Primary Care

Abstract

Purpose: Healthcare provider burnout has long been an issue, that has worsened since onset of COVID-19. There are many reasons as to why healthcare providers become burned out. This study was developed to better understand these factors and explore use of mindfulness as a potential solution. Healthcare provider burnout impacts finances, mental health, job satisfaction, and patient care. This study aimed to offer healthcare providers a practical outlet to support their mental well-being and help prevent burnout. Background: Burnout involves long-tern stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished sense of accomplishment. Mindfulness encompasses relaxation techniques to help give healthcare providers purposeful sense of self-reflection. This includes techniques like meditation, breathing exercises, and more spatial awareness. Methods: Healthcare providers from Village Medical group in Northern Colorado were recruited via e-mail and flyers to participate in the study. Participants engaged in at least 10 minutes of mindfulness practice of their choice, using Health Minds mobile application, for minimum of five days within 14-day period. Prior to and after completing two-week mindfulness intervention, participants were asked to complete Maslach Burnout Inventory for Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSSMP), along with background questionnaire and post-implementation questionnaire. Results: Two healthcare providers participated. Following the intervention, both providers expressed that they enjoyed practicing mindfulness and reported a desire to continue practicing. However, there were no statistically significant changes in data of any of three subcategories (emotional exhaustion (p=0.255), depersonalization (p=0.877), and personal achievement (p=0.745)). Conclusions: Although study had a small sample size and did not yield statistically significant data, results suggest mindfulness positively impacts burnout. Both healthcare providers demonstrated reduction in emotional exhaustion scores. Participants reported reduced emotional exhaustion and improved personal achievement. Changes in mean scores for all three subcategories were minimal though results were modest due to sample size, intervention duration, and educational factors.