Mindfulness-based stress reduction for GPs: results of a controlled mixed methods pilot study in Dutch primary care
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Burnout is highly prevalent in GPs and can have a negative influence on their wellbeing, performance, and patient care. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) may be an effective intervention to decrease burnout symptoms and increase wellbeing. AIM: To gain insight into the feasibility and effectiveness of MBSR on burnout, empathy, and (work-related) wellbeing in GPs. DESIGN AND SETTING: A mixed methods pilot study, including a waiting list-controlled pre-/post-study and a qualitative study of the experiences of participating GPs in the Netherlands. METHOD: Participants were sent questionnaires assessing burnout, work engagement, empathy, and mindfulness skills, before and at the end of the MBSR training/waiting period. Qualitative data on how GPs experienced the training were collected during a plenary session and with evaluation forms at the end of the course. RESULTS: Fifty Dutch GPs participated in this study. The MBSR group reported a greater decrease in depersonalisation than the control group (adjusted difference -1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -2.72 to -0.21, P = 0.03). Dedication increased more significantly in the MBSR group than in the control group (adjusted difference 2.17, 95% CI = 0.51 to 3.83, P = 0.01). Mindfulness skills increased significantly in the MBSR group compared with the control group (adjusted difference 6.90, 95% CI = 1.42 to 12.37, P = 0.01). There was no significant change in empathy. The qualitative data indicated that the MBSR course increased their wellbeing and compassion towards themselves and others, including their patients. CONCLUSION: The study shows that MBSR for GPs is feasible and might result in fewer burnout symptoms and increased work engagement and wellbeing. However, an adequately powered randomised controlled trial is needed to confirm the study's findings.
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Most studies (n=20) in this review did not collect postintervention follow-up data, and only one study conducted a long-term follow-up (12 months post the gratitude intervention), in which reported improvements were sustained.
“Despite this, most studies (n=20) in this review did not collect postintervention follow-up data and only one57 study conducted a long-term follow-up (12 months post the gratitude intervention), in which reported improvements were sustained.”
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 [57]
The citation is attached to the claim that this study conducted a 12-month follow-up after a gratitude intervention and found sustained improvements. The paper’s Strengths and limitations section (page not provided) says it had no follow-up period after MBSR training and that the sustainability of improvements remains unknown. (LLM, conf=0.94)
Checked by a reasoning model — may be wrong.
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredVerweij et al documented significantly reduced depersonalisation levels only.
“with Verweij et al57 documenting significantly reduced DP levels only.”
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 [57]
Twenty-six studies provided gender data, and most samples had more female than male participants.
“Twenty-six studies included gender information of participants. With the exception of three studies (Ducar et al. 2019; Pflugeisen et al. 2016; Verweij et al. 2016), there was an overrepresentation of females within all the study samples compared with males.”
From The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on the Psychological Functioning of Healthcare Professionals: a Systematic Review (2021) · cites this paper as Verweij et al. 2016
Three included MBSR programmes were 4 weeks long and produced significant improvements in psychological distress, anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness.
“Three MBSR programmes were 4 weeks in duration and yielded significant improvements in psychological distress, anxiety, depression, stress and mindfulness (Brady et al. 2012; Pipe et al. 2009; Verweij et al. 2016)”
From The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on the Psychological Functioning of Healthcare Professionals: a Systematic Review (2021) · cites this paper as Verweij et al. 2016
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- Authors
- Verweij, H., Waumans, R. C., Smeijers, D., Lucassen, P. L., Donders, A. R. T., van der Horst, H. E., & Speckens, A. E.
- Affiliations
- Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
- Venue
- British Journal of General Practice
- Published
- 2016-01-28
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 643
- Pages
- e99-e105
- ISSN
- 0960-1643 (ISSN-L)
- 1478-5242
- PMC
- PMC4723221
- OpenAlex
- W2294412431
- Cited by
- 78
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 11.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- British Journal of General Practice (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Stress and Burnout Research
- Keywords
- mindfulness-based stress reduction, physician burnout, general practitioners, work engagement, empathy, well-being, depersonalization, dedication, mindfulness skills, primary care, feasibility
- MeSH terms
- Empathy, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Netherlands, Pilot Projects, Quality of Life, Surveys and Questionnaires, Stress, Psychological, Time Factors, Prevalence, Treatment Outcome, Physicians, Primary Care, Mindfulness
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