Mindful Mentors: Is a Longitudinal Mind–Body Skills Training Pilot Program Feasible for Pediatric Cardiology Staff?

Abstract

Background: Stress and burnout among medical professionals are common and costly, placing professionals, organizations, and patients at risk. Objectives: To determine feasibility and acceptability of a longitudinal mind–body skills training initiative to help staff decrease stress and burnout, improve well-being, and empower them to utilize basic mindfulness methods with coworkers, patients, and families. Methods: Prospective cohort, mixed methods approach. Nurses, doctors, technicians, social workers, child life specialists were eligible to participate. The 12-month curriculum consisted of 16 hours of intensive education/practice over 2 days, with training in mindfulness skills, self-compassion, nonviolent communication, overcoming barriers to practice, and mindful listening/speaking, followed by monthly 1 hour booster/debriefing sessions. Results: A total of 37 staff participated (RN = 18, MD = 5, Technician = 6, Social Worker = 3, Child life = 3, others = 2) in the initial training, and 24 (65%) completed the 3- and 12-month follow-up surveys. Compared with pretraining scores, there were significant improvements 3 to 12 months after the initial training in stress (P