Mantra Meditation to Reduce Emotional Exhaustion in Emergency Department Staff

Overview

Work in a healthcare setting, such as in an emergency department (ED), while rewarding, can be harmful to psychological well being, as demonstrated by the high numbers of Irish hospital doctors experiencing burnout. Burnout has been linked to poor healthcare quality, medical errors and low patient satisfaction. To prevent further escalation of this problem, there is a need for effective stress-reducing intervention, such as meditation. Meditation practice has a confirmed positive effect on well being; through greater insight and awareness, meditation could help ED staff to become more attentive to and understanding of their patients' complaints, enhancing patient satisfaction and safety. However, based on current research it is difficult to distinguish between the effects of meditation on well being and those associated with bringing people together. There is therefore a need for a larger randomised study (RCT) including a participants that receive no meditation intervention. This pilot study aims to examine the suitability of RCT to assess the effect of mantra meditation on burnout among ED staff. The investigators will also examine participant recruitment and retention, data management and outcomes assessment methods for well being, patient satisfaction and biological markers. There will be two groups: intervention group (meditation) and control group (non-meditation). 30 ED staff placed in the intervention group will discuss prescribed texts and learn mantra meditation over a 7-week period, accompanied by 20 minutes of daily meditation practice. 30 ED staff placed in the control group will work in the ED as usual and not receive any texts. Biological samples and questionnaires will be obtained at three time points. Participant feedback will also be sought through interviews. This study will highlight issues related to participant recruitment, retention, and adherence, questionnaires, logistics, and data management and pave the way for an efficient, effective, and larger study that will investigate mantra meditation as a means of reducing burnout in ED staff.

The practice of medicine by health care professionals (HCPs), while often meaningful and rewarding, can have a detrimental effect on mental and physical well-being. Alongside the impact of exposure to environmental hazards, doctors are at above-average risk of developing stress-related psychological morbidities, substance abuse, and dysfunctional interpersonal relationships. In particular, the profession of emergency medicine, with its proclivity for complex caseloads, high personal responsibility, and a high-stress environment, can be emotionally and physically arduous. This is corroborated by findings from a recent report by the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI), which asserts that high percentage of Irish hospital doctors experience increased levels of burnout. Burnout comprises emotional exhaustion, a diminished sense of personal accomplishment, and depersonalisation, which can manifest as cynicism and a lack of empathy. In light of this, burnout among HCPs can have significant implications for the quality of healthcare provided to patients. Indeed, research demonstrates an association between HCP burnout and reduced compassion and empathy, increased medical errors, and decreased patient satisfaction. There is growing evidence indicating the psychological and physiological benefits of mindfulness and meditation in the general population. While less attention has been afforded to the potential gains for physicians and other HCPs, a limited body of research demonstrates the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in improving psychological well being and job satisfaction among this population. For example, a recent pilot study conducted by RCPI demonstrates that mantra meditation significantly reduced emotional exhaustion in 19 HCPs. The enhanced insight and awareness gleaned from meditation can translate into considerable gains for HCPs, patients, and the health service. Meditation can enable HCPs to recognise their own limitations and errors, to listen more attentively, and to observe and understand both physiological and behavioural factors at play. This is corroborated by Beach et al. (Annals of Family Medicine. 2013;11(5):421-8), who found that patients were more likely to give high ratings on clinical communication and to report increased overall satisfaction with clinicians who engage in regular mindfulness practices. Encounters with such clinicians were more likely to be characterised by a patient-centred pattern of communication and conversation about psycho-social issues, while there was no association between clinician mindfulness and discussion of biomedical issues. Meditation also has the potential to enhance patient safety, however, a complex and high-risk system such as healthcare requires additional approaches to augmenting safety. Central to situational awareness, in the context of the health system, is the concept of a mindful clinician who is present in the moment and unencumbered by distraction. In recent years, a state of crisis within Irish healthcare developed, with an increase in the migration of doctors, low levels of recruitment, and under-resourced services. Accordingly, Irish healthcare is characterised by the second-highest level of physician emigration in the world and one of the lowest ratios of doctor/per capita in Europe (www.oecd.org/health/health-at-a-glance-19991312.htm). Reasons for the difficulty in retaining qualified Irish doctors include more favourable working conditions and greater career opportunities abroad. Moreover, the quality of healthcare in Ireland is likely to be compromised by long-term absenteeism if HCPs are forced to leave their jobs prematurely. In light of the unprecedented difficulties in Irish healthcare, and considering the association between HCP burnout and increased absenteeism and disability, the pertinence of this research becomes apparent. HCPs are a vital resource for society and their loss as a result of avoidable ill-health is not only damaging to the health service, but a loss to patients and colleagues. Thus, interventions that aim to reduce or prevent burnout and stress-related psychological morbidities in HCPs are urgently required.