Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effectiveness of a 4-Week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Protocol for Hospital Employees
Open accessAbstract
Hospital employees may experience occupational stress and burnout, which negatively impact quality of life and job performance. Evidence-based interventions implemented within the hospital setting are needed to promote employees' well-being. We offered a 4-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy group program for hospital employees, and used a mixed-methods practice-based research approach to explore feasibility, acceptability, and effects on stress and burnout. Participants were 65 hospital employees (Mage = 44.06; 85% white) who participated between September 2015 and January 2016. Participants completed validated measures of stress and burnout before and after the program, and answered open-ended satisfaction questions after the program. Groups consistently enrolled at least 10 participants, but attendance rates declined across sessions (76% at session 2 vs. 54% at session 4) due primarily to work-related scheduling conflicts. The program content was acceptable as evidenced by high perceived value (M = 9.18 out of 10), homework compliance (51% practicing at least 3 times/week), and qualitative requests for program expansion. There were large, statistically significant decreases in stress (Δ M = 2.1, p < .001, d = .85) and medium decreases in burnout (Δ M = .46, p = .01, d = .57), which were supported by qualitative themes of improved self-regulation and mindfulness skills, stress reduction, emotional well-being, and improved work productivity and patient care skills. Findings suggest that 4-week MBCT is acceptable and useful for hospital employees, though research is needed to identify alternate delivery methods or strategies to enhance session attendance.
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There is evidence of successful application of MBCT with health professionals in reducing stress and burnout.
“Embora o MBCT tenha sido originalmente utilizado em populações clínicas, existem evidências do sucesso da sua aplicação junto de profissionais de saúde na redução de stresse e de burnout (Luberto et al., 2017; Shapiro, Brown, & Biegel, 2007; Sinclair, Kondejewski, Raffin-Bouchal, King-Shier, & Singh, 2017).”
From EXPLORAÇÃO DA AUTOCOMPAIXÃO NO CONTEXTO DE UM PROGRAMA DE MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY. (2018) · cites this paper as Luberto et al., 2017
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- Authors
- Luberto, C. M., Wasson, R. S., Kraemer, K. M., Sears, R. W., Hueber, C., & Cotton, S.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Cincinnati (US)
- Corresponding author
- Luberto, Christina M.
- Venue
- Mindfulness
- Published
- 2017-04-01
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1522-1531
- ISSN
- 1868-8527 (ISSN-L)
- 1868-8535
- PMC
- PMC5766285
- OpenAlex
- W2604073165
- Cited by
- 32
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 2.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- europepmc.org
- Locations
- Mindfulness (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (2T32AT000051-6)
- University of Cincinnati Medical Center
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Burnout
- Keywords
- mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, hospital staff, occupational stress, burnout, employee well-being, group intervention, feasibility, acceptability, session attendance, self-regulation, labor productivity
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