scholarly journals Efficacy of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention on the psychological well-being of health care professionals and trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method design

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iram Osman ◽  
Shaista Hamid ◽  
Veena S. Singaram
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Intervention Analysis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Impact

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health professionals were pushed to the front line of a global health crisis unprepared and resource constrained, which affected their mental well-being.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on stress and burnout for health professionals training and working in South Africa during the COVID-19 crisis.Setting: The context of the study is the overburdened, under-resourced health care system in South Africa during a global pandemic.Methods: A mixed method framework was adopted for this study. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis and the participants’ qualitative experiences were interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Results: Forty-seven participants took part in this study. The study found a statistically significant (p 0.05) reduction in stress levels and emotional exhaustion as well as an increase in mindful awareness and feelings of personal accomplishment after the intervention. The participants’ shared experiences were analysed in two parts. The pre-intervention analysis presented with central themes of loss of control and a sense of powerlessness because of COVID-19. The post-intervention analysis comprised themes of a sense of acquired control and empowerment through increased mindfulness.Conclusions: The study found that a brief online MBI can be associated with reduced levels of stress and burnout as well as an increased sense of control and empowerment, felt both personally and professionally, during a global crisis.Contribution: The impact of an online MBI for health care professionals amidst a pandemic has not been previously documented.

scholarly journals Healing the Healers: A Phenomenological Exploration of a Brief Online Mindfulness Course on Stress, Burnout and Coping Strategies of Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Crisis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iram Osman ◽  
Veena Singaram ◽  
Shaista Hamid
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Evaluation Framework ◽  
Present Moment ◽  
Intervention Analysis ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Mindful Awareness ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health professionals were pushed to the front line of a global health crisis unprepared, resource constrained, and with heightened uncertainty and distress levels. The impact of an online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) for health care professionals amid a pandemic has not been previously documented. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of a brief online MBI on stress, burnout and mindful awareness for health professionals training and working during the COVID-19 crisis.Methods: A mixed methods, phenomenological, participatory evaluation framework was adopted for this study. A four-week online training programme was adapted and delivered to health professionals via the Zoom platform. Non-probability snowball sampling was used to recruit participants. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis via Stata 15.1 statistical software, and the participants’ qualitative experiences were interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA).Results: Forty-seven participants took part in this study. The study found a statistically significant (p < 0.05) reduction in stress levels and emotional exhaustion as well as an increase in mindful awareness and feelings of personal accomplishment between the pre-and post-intervention assessments of the MBI. The participants’ shared experiences were analysed in two parts. The pre-intervention analysis presented with central themes of loss of control and a sense of powerlessness due to COVID-19. The post-intervention analysis comprised themes of a sense of acquired control and empowerment through increased mindfulness.Conclusions: The study found that a brief online MBI can be associated with increased awareness and present-moment focus as well as reduced levels of stress and burnout. The MBI had a positive impact on the health care professionals’ sense of control and empowerment, and increased their perceived sense of competence and accomplishment, both personally and professionally, during the global crisis.

scholarly journals Interdisciplinary Collaboration among Health Professionals: A Panacea for effective and Evidence-based Health Care delivery

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-23
Author(s):  
Joseph D Z ◽  
Aminu B ◽  
Halilu S ◽  
Mark A D ◽  
Kayode O ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Interdisciplinary Collaboration ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Search Term ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: Interdisciplinary collaboration (IDC) is important in health care settings as the complex nature and demands of the health care work environment requires the expertise and knowledge of different individuals or specialists working together to solve multifaceted and complex patient care problems. Objective: To assess the health professionals' attitude towards the development of an interdisciplinary collaborative approach to patient care in health institutions and to systematically review the impact of IDC as a panacea for effective health outcomes in Nigeria. Methodology: The research is a systematic review that provides various approaches for studying interdisciplinary teams. Fifty articles were selected from different search engines such as Google, google scholar, science direct and research gate with the search term Interdisciplinary collaboration among health care professionals. Articles were arranged based on most relevant, relevant and closely related articles. Result: The study revealed that IDC is pivotal in evidence-based care and contributes immensely to effective and efficient health outcomes. It puts the patient at the centre of the healthcare team's focus and allows all health professionals, with the patient, to collaboratively provide input, be part of the decision making, and improve outcomes. Although there are several obstacles to IDC, adopting this team-based culture of mutual respect and understanding is possible and, in fact, necessary. Conclusion: This study reveals that there are many benefits to IDC. It can improve safety and healthcare delivery, as well as reduce costs. The interprofessional team supports patient and personnel engagement, organizational efficiency and innovation.

Effects of Mindful Self-Compassion Training on Increasing Self-Compassion in Health Care Professionals

2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 7512515315p1-7512515315p1
Author(s):  
Susan M. Knier ◽  
Julie L. Watson ◽  
Jennifer O’Connor Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being ◽  
Primary Author

Abstract Date Presented 04/22/21 Health care professionals are vulnerable to stress overload and risks that threaten health and well-being. This study investigated the impact of mindful self-compassion (MSC) training on people working in health care. Overall, self-compassion and subscale scores showed significant improvement. Participants indicated that self-compassion and positive mind states were integrated into their lives. OTs could assimilate MSC as an adjunct approach for their clients and their selves. Primary Author and Speaker: Susan M. Knier

scholarly journals Experiences of Using Web-Based and Mobile Technologies to Support Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Kelly ◽  
Crispin Jenkinson ◽  
David Morley
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Coordinated Care ◽  
Web Based ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rising, placing increasing strain on health care services. Web-based and mobile technologies can be an important source of information and support for people with type 2 diabetes and may prove beneficial with respect to reducing complications due to mismanagement. To date, little research has been performed to gain an insight into people’s perspectives of using such technologies in their daily management. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of using Web-based and mobile technologies to support the management of type 2 diabetes. METHODS In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 people with type 2 diabetes to explore experiences of using Web-based and mobile technologies to manage their diabetes. Transcripts were analyzed using the framework method. RESULTS Technology supported the users to maintain individualized and tailored goals when managing their health. A total of 7 themes were identified as important to participants when using technology to support self-management: (1) information, (2) understanding individual health and personal data, (3) reaching and sustaining goals, (4) minimizing disruption to daily life, (5) reassurance, (6) communicating with health care professionals, and (7) coordinated care. CONCLUSIONS Patients need to be supported to manage their condition to improve well-being and prevent diabetes-related complications from arising. Technologies enabled the users to get an in-depth sense of how their body reacted to both lifestyle and medication factors—something that was much more difficult with the use of traditional standardized information alone. It is intended that the results of this study will inform a new questionnaire designed to assess self-management in people using Web-based and mobile technology to manage their health.

scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemic and its influence on mental health of healthcare professionals in Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (01) ◽  
pp. 23-27
Author(s):  
Robin Bhattarai ◽  
Joshila Chanu Yumnam ◽  
Kishor Chhantyal ◽  
Karuna Rai ◽  
Manoj Kumar Chaudhary ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Front Line ◽  
Psychological Burden ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
The Impact

Given the unprecedented global public health crisis due to the covid-19 pandemic, it is important to recognize the psychological impact on health care professionals. Previous experiences from the smaller scale epidemiology and new literature on COVID-19 have shown that increased pressure on healthcare professionals is associated with rise in the psychological incidence rates. We have described the psychological burden of the covid-19 pandemic on health care workers in Nepal and reviewed the literature on the impact of previous epidemics on front-line health care workers. In addition, we discussed potential triggers and measures to minimize the front-line psychological pressure to deal with this biological threat.

scholarly journals Consult, Negotiate, and Involve: Evaluation of an Advanced Communication Skills Program for Health Care Professionals

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Coad ◽  
Joanna Smith ◽  
David Pontin ◽  
Faith Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Young People ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Cancer Education ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Communication Skills Training ◽  
The Impact

Effective communication is central to children, young people, and their families’ experiences of health care. Most patient complaints in developed health care systems result from ineffective communication, including inadequate information provision, not feeling listened to, failure to value patients concerns, and patients not feeling involved in care decisions. Advanced communication skills training is now embedded within cancer care policy in the United Kingdom and now features prominently within cancer education in many countries. Here, we share findings from a research evaluation of an advanced communication skills training program dedicated to health professionals caring for children and young people with cancer. We evaluated participants’ (n = 59) perceptions of the program, impact on their skills, knowledge, competence, and confidence. An appreciative inquiry design was adopted; data included interviews, precourse-postcourse evaluations, e-mail blog survey, and 360-degree reflective work records. The framework approach underpinned data analysis and triangulation of data sets. Key findings highlighted good and poor practice in health professionals’ engagement with children, young people, and their families; the purpose of communicating effectively was not always consistent with collaborative working. Attending a program helped participants expand their knowledge of communication theories and strategies. Participants valued using simulated scenarios to develop their skills and were keen to use their new skills to enhance care delivery. Our emphasis within this evaluation, however, remained on what was communicated, when and how, rather than to what effect. The impact of programs such as these must now be evaluated in terms of patient benefit.

scholarly journals Mindfulness-Based Medical Practice: Exploring the Link between Self-Compassion and Wellness

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Anne Irving ◽  
Patricia L Dobkin ◽  
Jeeseon Park-Saltzman ◽  
Marilyn R. Fitzpatrick ◽  
Tom A Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Medical Practice ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Process Measures ◽  
Self Compassion

Objectives: In light of the detrimental impact of burnout upon clinicians and their patients, the identification of means through which the well-being of health care professionals can be fostered and protected is timely and important.  The present study explored outcomes associated with participation in Mindfulness-Based Medical Practice (MBMP), a program modeled after Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction which included additional mindful communication exercises to foster the integration of mindfulness in various clinical settings.Methods: Physicians, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers enrolled in the 8-week MBMP program.  Participants (N = 110) between the age of 24 and 82 years (M = 46.5, SD = 11.4: 73% women) completed self-report measures prior to and following the program; the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale-10 and the Ryff Scales of Psychological Well-Being. Two process measures designed to capture mechanisms of change were administered: the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, and the Neff Self-Compassion Scale.Results: Results from paired-sample t-tests indicated that health care professionals enrolled in MBMP can benefit from the program. Analyses demonstrated significant decreases upon measures of perceived stress [p= .000], emotional exhaustion [p= .000], depersonalization [p= .000], and an increase in personal accomplishment [p= .000] as well as mindfulness [p=.000], self-compassion [p= .000], and well-being [p= .000].  Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that change scores on perceived stress (Beta = -1.46, p LT 0.000) and self-compassion (Beta = 9.02, p LT 0.006) predicted changes in well-being in this sample. Additionally, participants rate perceived importance of having taken part in the course using a Likert-scale from 1-10 (M=8.5, SD = 1.51).Conclusions: This study suggests that for health care professionals enrolled in MBMP may experience a variety of benefits associated with participation in the program. Further, increases in self-compassion may hold particular implications for well-being in this population.

scholarly journals When One is Sick and Two Need Help: Caring for the Caregiver

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Law
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Healthcare Professional ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Illness ◽  
Chronic Physical Illness ◽  
Video And Audio ◽  
Educational Modules ◽  
The Impact

Objectives: To increase public and professional understanding of caregiving experiences of people who care for adults with chronic physical illness; to promote the use of caregivers’ lived experiences in the education of healthcare professionals.Methods: Part 1: 40 qualitative audio/video recorded interviews were conducted with adult caregivers in a maximum variation sample from across Canada. Data collection and analysis is via rigorous qualitative research. 25 topics or themes are identified reflective of the participants’ concerns, meanings and priorities.Results including video, audio or text clips, and evidence-informed resources are published on www.healthexperiences.ca. The methods are adopted from the award-winning website (www.healthtalkonline.org) from Oxford University, UK.Part 2: collaboration with healthcare professionals, educational experts, researchers and caregivers to design educational modules to be piloted in University setting for healthcare professional education.Results: Caregivers described their experiences with the healthcare system as part of their role. They provide advice to health care professionals about issues such as access to information and services, attitude and behaviours, the impact of caregiving on their own well-being , and reflections on their role. Participants emphasize the importance of recognition for their role as part of the care team for patients with chronic physical illnesses. Some described the need for the healthcare system to consider caregivers as an important component in the ‘a circle of care’ around the patient. If caregivers suffer physical or mental illness, burn-out or lack of resources, the support system for the patient falls away. Educational modules featuring video and audio clips of caregivers’ stories are powerful educational tools in developing healthcare professional sensitivity to these issues in patient care.Conclusion: The www.healthexperiences.ca / www.experiencessante.ca sites are unique in Canada in the field of patient experiences and healthcare communication. It is a great resource to educate health care professionals about the caregivers’ perspective on caring for adults with chronic physical illness.

scholarly journals TeleCOVID-19: A Multifaceted Strategy from a Public Brazilian Telehealth Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Beatriz Moreira Alkmim ◽  
Milena Soriano Marcolino ◽  
Clara Rodrigues Alves de Oliveira ◽  
Isabela Nascimento Borges ◽  
Clareci Silva Cardoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Reliable Information ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
System A ◽  
Remote Management

The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly and radically transformed health systems worldwide. The challenges are imposed by the need for social distance, remote management of less severe cases, and the constant need for updating health care professionals and the population with reliable information. We aim to describe the experiences and developments of a Brazilian telehealth public service during the pandemic. Numerous tools have been developed and made available, to be used in an integrated manner, by both health professionals and the general public. Those included a chatbot for guidance, a teleconsultation platform combined with a telemonitoring system, a teleconsulting service, and a tele-education program. The TNMG services appear to be efficient and robust during the health crisis of COVID-19, through different tools and methodologies focused on both professionals and users of the health systems.

scholarly journals Easier and Faster Is Not Always Better: Grounded Theory of the Impact of Large-Scale System Transformation on the Clinical Work of Emergency Medicine Nurses and Physicians (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Zibrowski ◽  
Lisa Shepherd ◽  
Kamran Sedig ◽  
Richard Booth ◽  
Candace Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clinical Workflow ◽  
Nurses And Physicians ◽  
The Impact

BACKGROUND The effectiveness of Lean Thinking as a quality improvement method for health care has been contested due, in part, to our limited contextual understanding of how it affects the working conditions and clinical workflow of nurses and physicians. Although there are some initial indications, arising from prevalence surveys and interviews, that Lean may intensify work performed within medical environments, the evidence base still requires detailed descriptions of the changes that were actually introduced to individuals’ clinical workflow and how these changes impacted health care professionals. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to explore ways in which a Lean intervention may impact the clinical work of emergency medicine nurses and physicians. METHODS We used a realist grounded theory approach to explore the clinical work of nurses and physicians practicing in 2 emergency medicine departments from a single teaching hospital in Canada. The hospital has 1000 beds with 128,000 emergency department (ED) visits annually. In 2013, both sites began a large-scale, Lean-driven system transformation of their practice environments. In-person interviews were iteratively conducted with health care professionals from July to December 2017. Information from transcripts was coded into categories and compared with existing codes. With repeated review of transcripts and evolving coding, we organized categories into themes. Data collection continued to theoretical sufficiency. RESULTS A total of 15 emergency medicine nurses and 5 physicians were interviewed. Of these, 18 individuals had practiced for at least 10 years. Our grounded theory involved 3 themes: (1) organization of our clinical work, (2) pushed pace in the front cell, and (3) the toll this all takes on us. Although the intervention was supposed to make the EDs work easier, faster, and better, the participants in our study indicated that the changes made had the opposite impact. Nurses and physicians described ways in which the reconfigured EDs disrupted their established practice routines and resulted in the intensification of their work. Participants also identified indications of deskilling of nurses’ work and how the new push-forward model of patient care had detrimental impacts on their physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first study to describe the impact of Lean health care on the working conditions and actual work of emergency medicine nurses and physicians. We theorize that rather than support health care professionals in their management of the complexities that characterize emergency medicine, the physical and process-based changes introduced by the Lean intervention acted to further complicate their working environment. We have illuminated some unintended consequences associated with accelerating patient flow on the clinical workflow and perceived well-being of health care professionals. We identify some areas for reconsideration by the departments and put forward ideas for future research.

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