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The Impact of Psychological Interventions with Elements of Mindfulness (PIM) on Empathy, Well-Being, and Reduction of Burnout in Physicians: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Tement

    (Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Maribor, Taborska 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia)

  • Zalika Klemenc Ketiš

    (Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Maribor, Taborska 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
    Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Ljubljana, Poljanski Nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
    Community Healthcare Centre Ljubljana, Primary Healthcare Research and Development Institute (IRROZ), Metelkova 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Špela Miroševič

    (Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Ljubljana, Poljanski Nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia)

  • Polona Selič-Zupančič

    (Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Ljubljana, Poljanski Nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
    Community Healthcare Centre Ljubljana, Primary Healthcare Research and Development Institute (IRROZ), Metelkova 9, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
    Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University Maribor, Taborska 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia)

Abstract

Introduction: Physician’s burnout has been recognized as an increasing and significant work-related syndrome, described by the combination of emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (D), together with low personal accomplishment (PA). It has many negative consequences on personal, organizational, and patient care levels. This systematic review aimed to analyze research articles where psychological interventions with elements of mindfulness (PIMs) were used to support physicians in order to reduce burnout and foster empathy and well-being. Methods: Systematic searches were conducted in May 2019, within six electronic databases PubMed, EBSCOhost MEDLINE, PsycArticles, Cochrane Library, JSTOR, and Slovenian national library information system. Different combinations of boolean operators were used—mindfulness, empathy, medicine/family medicine/general practice/primary care, burnout, doctors/physicians, intervention, and support group. Additional articles were manually searched from the reference list of the included articles. Studies with other healthcare professionals (not physicians and residents) and/or medical students, and those where PIMs were applied for educational or patient’s treatment purposes were excluded. Results: Of 1194 studies identified, 786 screened and 139 assessed for eligibility, there were 18 studies included in this review. Regardless of a specific type of PIMs applied, results, in general, demonstrate a positive impact on empathy, well-being, and reduction in burnout in participating physicians. Compared with other recent systematic reviews, this is unique due to a broader selection of psychological interventions and emphasis on a sustained effect measurement. Conclusions: Given the pandemic of COVID-19, it is of utmost importance that this review includes also interventions based on modern information technologies (mobile apps) and can be used as an awareness-raising material for physicians providing information about feasible and easily accessible interventions for effective burnout prevention and/or reduction. Future research should upgrade self-reported data with objective psychological measures and address the question of which intervention offers more benefits to physicians.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Tement & Zalika Klemenc Ketiš & Špela Miroševič & Polona Selič-Zupančič, 2021. "The Impact of Psychological Interventions with Elements of Mindfulness (PIM) on Empathy, Well-Being, and Reduction of Burnout in Physicians: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11181-:d:663885
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wanchun Xu & Zijing Pan & Zhong Li & Shan Lu & Liang Zhang, 2020. "Job Burnout Among Primary Healthcare Workers in Rural China: A Multilevel Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Math Janssen & Beatrice Van der Heijden & Josephine Engels & Hubert Korzilius & Pascale Peters & Yvonne Heerkens, 2020. "Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training on Healthcare Professionals’ Mental Health: Results from a Pilot Study Testing Its Predictive Validity in a Specialized Hospital Setting," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-14, December.
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