The primary objective of the study was to determine whether the yoga-based breathing and meditation program SKY could improve wellness indicators in currently practicing physicians. The hypothesis of this study is that SKY is effective in reducing anxiety and depression, increasing subjective optimism, and reducing physician burnout in healthy, actively practicing physicians.
Physicians are exposed to high stress and strain that results in burnout, affecting not only them, their families, patients, but the whole healthcare system. Thus there is an urgent need to develop methods to increase resiliency of physicians. A comprehensive yoga breathing and meditation-based online program (Sudarshan Kriya Yoga, or SKY) is a potential approach to mitigate physician burnout. This is a randomized clinical trial assessing the potential efficacy of SKY compared to a stress management education (SME) training as control, conducted online. Both groups received training for three consecutive days, 1,5 hours per day, through group video conference. Active physicians participated in the study from November 2021 to March 2022. Of the 280 physicians who showed interest and prescreened, 238 were eligible and randomized to receive either the SKY or the control intervention.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
128
The SKY sessions (3x1,5 h on consecutive days) included online instruction in gentle stretches ('office yoga' in a sitting position), specific breathing exercises and meditation, and discussion of cognitive/behavioral coping skills. After the 3-day program, participants asked to practice the techniques once a day for about 30 min. In addition, there were weekly group exercise sessions of 1 hour where all participants were asked to join.
This control intervention included viewing of educational videos on stress management and group discussions, where the sessions were equal in length to the SKY intervention. There were also weekly follow-up sessions as in the SKY group where the educational points were reviewed and experiences of the subjects during the previous week was discussed.
Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center
Izmir, Balcova, Turkey (Türkiye)
Change from Baseline Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale immediately after the intervention and at 8 weeks
Scores assessed by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 42 (DASS-42).
Time frame: At baseline, right after the 3-day intervention, and at 8 weeks post-intervention
Change from baseline in Professional Satisfaction index post-intervention and at 8 weeks
Scores assessed by the Professional Satisfaction Index (PFI).
Time frame: At baseline, right after the 3-day intervention, and at 8 weeks post-intervention
Change from baseline in optimism post-intervention and at 8 weeks
Optimism scores assessed by the Life Orientation Test (Revised) (LOT-R) and the
Time frame: At baseline, right after the 3-day intervention, and at 8 weeks post-intervention
Change from baseline in Insomnia post-intervention and at 8 weeks
Insomnia scores assesed by the Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS).
Time frame: At baseline, right after the 3-day intervention, and at 8 weeks post-intervention
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.