Evaluation of a Meditation Intervention to Reduce the Effects of Stressors Associated With Compassion Fatigue Among Nurses
Abstract
Purpose of Study: This pilot study evaluated whether short (less than 10 minutes) structured meditations decrease compassion fatigue and improve compassion satisfaction in oncology nurses. Design of Study: A nonrandomized, pre-post intervention study. Methods Used: Participants used specific meditations designed to establish a sense of calm, relaxation, and self-compassion 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Meditations were provided on an audio-CD after brief individual instruction. The Professional Quality of Life Survey, Version 5, was administered pre and post intervention along with supplementary questions. Findings: Fifteen nurses participated in the study over a 6-month period in 2014. Paired t test revealed that the intervention demonstrated a statistically significant increase in Compassion Satisfaction scores (mean difference = −2.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [−4.98, −0.36], t[14] = −2.48, p = .027, d = 0.63) and decreases in Burnout (mean difference = 4.13, 95% CI = [1.66, 6.60], t[14] = 3.581, p = .003, d = 0.92) and Secondary Trauma (mean difference = 3.00, 95% CI = [0.40, 5.96], t[14] = 2.174, p = .047, d = 0.56) scores. All participants reported increased feelings of relaxation and well-being on supplemental questions. Conclusions: Even in this small sample, the practice of short breathing and meditation exercises was effective in improving nurse outcomes. A larger study is warranted including tracking sustained effects relative to maintaining a meditation practice.
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Duarte and Pinto-Gouveia and Hevezi reported statistically significant reductions in burnout postintervention.
“Statistically significant reductions in burnout were reported postintervention in the studies by Duarte and Pinto-Gouveia60 and Hevezi.51”
From Workplace interventions to improve well-being and reduce burnout for nurses, physicians and allied healthcare professionals: a systematic review. (2023) · cites this paper as [51]
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“51 There were significant reductions in EE as well as Depersonal-isation (DP) levels but not overall burnout in the study by Caponnetto et al 59 with Verweij et al 57 documenting significantly reduced DP levels only.”
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“Two focused on oncology departments, where high levels of burnout have been reported (Duarte & Pinto-Gouveia, 2016; Hevezi, 2016) and found that the intervention reduced burnout to a moderate level.”
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- Authors
- Hevezi, J. A.
- Affiliations
- UC San Diego Health System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hevezi, Julie A.
- Venue
- Journal of Holistic Nursing
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-07-08
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 343-350
- ISSN
- 0898-0101 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-5724
- OpenAlex
- W2176173813
- Cited by
- 106
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 7.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Holistic Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Occupational Health and Burnout
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Keywords
- compassion fatigue, meditation, oncology nurses, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, compassion satisfaction, self-compassion, breathing exercises, relaxation, nurse well-being
- MeSH terms
- Compassion Fatigue, Adult, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Nurses, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Meditation
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