Holistic Nursing in Practice: Mindfulness-Based Yoga as an Intervention to Manage Stress and Burnout

Abstract

Purpose Effects of a mindfulness-based (MB) yoga practice on stress, burnout, and indicators of well-being among nurses and health care professionals (HCPs). Design A randomized controlled trial, 80 HCPs assigned to either MB yoga intervention or control group. Method The MB yoga intervention group ( n = 41) attended weekly yoga classes and practiced yoga independently. The control group ( n = 39) did not receive the yoga intervention. Study participants completed pre- and postintervention questionnaires, instruments included (a) Perceived Stress Scale; (b) Maslach Burnout Inventory; (c) Vitality subscale of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form–36; (d) Global Sleep Quality item, (e) Mindfulness Awareness Survey, and (f) subscale of the Brief Serenity Scale. Diurnal salivary cortisol and blood pressure were assessed pre and postintervention. Results Significant improvements ( p < .01) noted in MB yoga compared with control for self-reported factors, including stress (Perceived Stress Scale), burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory), vitality (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form–36), sleep (GSQ), serenity/inner haven (IH), and mindfulness (Mindfulness Awareness Survey). Diurnal cortisol slopes and blood pressure were not significantly improved. Conclusion The MB yoga intervention had a statistically significant effect on the health and well-being of nurses and HCPs, most specifically for measures of stress; perceived stress, burnout, vitality, sleep quality, serenity, and mindfulness.

A Holistic Transcendental Leadership Model for Enhancing Innovation, Creativity and Well-Being in Health Care

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“…Hilcove et al 20 found that the yoga intervention had a statistically significant effect on the health and well-being of nurses and HCPs, most specifically for measures of stress; perceived stress, burnout, vitality, sleep quality, serenity, and mindfulness. The findings obtained from these studies support the findings of our As a result of the study, pre-test MSQ scores of the participants in the experimental and control groups were found to have high level IS, ES, and GS (Table 3).…”

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