Reducing Stress and Burnout in Military Healthcare Professionals Through Mind-Body Medicine: A Pilot Program

Mil Med. 2023 May 16;188(5-6):e1140-e1149. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usab389.

Abstract

Introduction: A 6-week mindfulness training course, the Mind-Body Medicine (MBM) pilot program for staff, was implemented at a large military treatment facility to examine the preliminary efficacy of the program in reducing stress and burnout in military healthcare professionals.

Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of data collected from a single-arm prospective MBM pilot program. The program was designed to help staff members increase their awareness of burnout and its consequences and to learn how to utilize mindfulness-based self-care practices as a means for reducing stress and preventing burnout at work. Participants attended a 2-hour MBM group each week for a total duration of 6 weeks. Assessments of stress, resilience, anxiety, somatic symptoms, functional impairment, sleep quality, quality of life, and burnout were administered at baseline (T1), upon completion of the 6-week program (T2), and at least 3 months after program completion (T3). Multilevel modeling was used as the primary statistical model to assess changes in outcomes. Fifty-nine staff members completed assessments at T1, 31 (52.5%) at T2, and 17 (28.8%) at T3.

Results: Participants showed improvements on scores of perceived stress, resilience, anxiety, somatic symptoms, quality of life, and burnout variables from T1 to T2 and from T1 to T3 (P < .05). Additionally, they reported improvements in their knowledge, understanding, and utilization of MBM concepts and practices from T1 to T2 and from T1 to T3 (P < .05).

Conclusions: Results from this pilot suggest that the MBM program has the potential to reduce occupational stress and burnout and improve well-being in military healthcare professionals.

MeSH terms

  • Burnout, Professional* / prevention & control
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Humans
  • Medically Unexplained Symptoms*
  • Military Personnel*
  • Mind-Body Therapies
  • Mindfulness* / methods
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Quality of Life
  • Retrospective Studies