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

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasudha Ram ◽  
Jagruti P Bhakta ◽  
Scott Roesch ◽  
Jeffrey Millegan

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.

Author(s):  
Charlotte Morris ◽  
Catherine Briggs ◽  
Manju Navani

Dyspareunia is persistent pain on attempted or successful vaginal penetration. It is under-reported, infrequently asked about by healthcare professionals, and affects quality of life and relationships. Dyspareunia is multifactorial and possesses biopsychosocial components. Pain may be distinct and localised, deep or persistent. Among the symptoms, women describe sensations of aching, throbbing and tearing. Disinterest in sex and relationship problems can result. This article discusses dyspareunia, its common differential diagnoses and aims to improve clinician confidence in assessing and managing dyspareunia in primary care.


Author(s):  
Raquel Adjafre da Costa Matos ◽  
Rita de Cassia Coelho de Almeida Akutsu ◽  
Renata Puppin Zandonadi ◽  
Raquel Braz Assunção Botelho

Dietitians as healthcare professionals could decrease their quality of life during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic period; therefore, this study aimed to compare Brazilian dietitians’ perceptions of quality of life before and during the pandemic. This nationwide cross-sectional research aimed to evaluate Brazilian dietitians’ quality of life before and in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, using a previously validated self-administered instrument WHO-QOL-BREF in Brazilian-Portuguese. The questionnaire was composed of 26 items (four domains) to evaluate life quality (physical, psychological, social relationship, and environment). The questionnaire also presented some sociodemographic variables and three questions about the COVID-19 pandemic. It was applied using GoogleForms® platform (Google LLC, Mountain View, CA, USA). For the statistical analysis of data, Paired T-test, Chi-squared test, and Analysis of Variance were used. A total of 1290 Brazilian dietitians replied to the instrument. Comparing quality of life (QoL) before SARS-COV-2 (3.83 ± 0.59) and during the pandemic (3.36 ± 0.66), data was statistically different. Comparing prior and in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, all variables and domains presented statistical differences (better before the pandemic period). Among Brazilian dietitians, the psychological health domain was the most affected. The Sars-Cov-2 pandemic negatively impacted the QoL of Brazilian dietitians since health professionals face changes in their lives because of work.


2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 154-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Gimpel ◽  
Christel von Scheidt ◽  
Gerald Jose ◽  
Ulrike Sonntag ◽  
George B. Stefano ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aristotelis Koinis ◽  
Vasiliki Giannou ◽  
Vasiliki Drantaki ◽  
Sophia Angelaina ◽  
Elpida Stratou ◽  
...  

Workplace stress can influence healthcare professionals’ physical and emotional well-being by curbing their efficiency and having a negative impact on their overall quality of life. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact that work environment in a local public general hospital can have on the health workers’ mental-emotional health and find strategies in order to cope with negative consequences. The study took place from July 2010 to October 2010. Our sample consisted of 200 healthcare professionals aged 21-58 years working in a 240-bed general hospital and the response rate was 91.36%). Our research protocol was first approved by the hospital’s review board. A standardized questionnaire that investigates strategies for coping with stressful conditions was used. A standardized questionnaire was used in the present study Coping Strategies for Stressful Events, evaluating the strategies that persons employ in order to overcome a stressful situation or event. The questionnaire was first tested for validity and reliability which were found satisfactory (Cronbach’s α=0.862). Strict anonymity of the participants was guaranteed. The SPSS 16.0 software was used for the statistical analysis. Regression analysis showed that health professionals’ emotional health can be influenced by strategies for dealing with stressful events, since positive re-assessment, quitting and seeking social support are predisposing factors regarding the three first quality of life factors of the World Health Organization Quality of Life -BREF. More specifically, for the physical health factor, positive re-assessment (t=3.370, P=0.001) and quitting (t=−2.564, P=0.011) are predisposing factors. For the ‘mental health and spirituality’ regression model, positive re-assessment (t=5.528, P=0.000) and seeking social support (t=−1.991, P=0.048) are also predisposing factors, while regarding social relationships positive re-assessment (t=4.289, P=0.000) is a predisposing factor. According to our findings, there was a notable lack of workplace stress management strategies, which the participants usually perceive as a lack of interest on behalf of the management regarding their emotional state. Some significant factors for lowering workplace stress were found to be the need to encourage and morally reward the staff and also to provide them with opportunities for further or continuous education.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 378-386
Author(s):  
Louise Newson ◽  
Nick Panay

The menopause is a normal life event for women and not an illness or medical condition. Despite this, menopause can predispose vulnerable women to distressing symptoms that impact adversely on their quality of life and to long term medical conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Many healthcare professionals are uncertain about the management of the menopause, and this leads to many women not receiving treatment which is often beneficial to them. This article will cover the diagnosis of the menopause including premature ovarian insufficiency. Some of the health risks of the menopause will be discussed and treatment of the menopause, with a particular focus on hormone replacement therapy, will be covered in detail.


2022 ◽  
pp. 1161-1174
Author(s):  
Lesley Clack

Healthcare organizations are commonly known to be high-stress environments due to the life-or-death nature of the work. Thus, examining the quality of life in healthcare professionals is of significance to the field. Quality of life is a common measurement in healthcare, typically in determining the effectiveness of treatment on patients. But, quality of life in healthcare workers is often overlooked. A review of the literature was conducted regarding factors that impact quality of life of workers in healthcare environments. The areas of occupational stress, burnout, and workplace violence were explored in depth in order to understand the potential negative consequences of each on quality of life in healthcare professionals. In comparison to other industries, healthcare professionals are at an increased risk for occupational stress, burnout, and workplace violence. Effectively managing these areas could have a positive impact on quality of life in healthcare workers.


Author(s):  
Knut Engedal

Norway has 5 million inhabitants, of whom 200,000 are aged above 80 years. The country is a welfare state, with a tax system covering most health services for its citizens. It is estimated that 78,000 people in Norway suffer from dementia, of whom 60% live at home and the remainder in residential care. In 2007, the first National Dementia Plan was launched (2007–2015), and the second in 2016 (2016–2020). The main goals of the two Plans are to develop services across the country to improve the care and quality of life for all people with dementia and their family caregivers, as well as increase the knowledge of dementia among healthcare professionals. In addition, the Plans also aim to improve awareness of dementia in society as a whole and to develop and implement measures to help create a more dementia-friendly society.


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