JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Several studies show that intense work schedules make healthcare professionals particularly vulnerable to emotional exhaustion and burnout, a problem that has aggravated since the pandemic. If left unaddressed, such problems can lead to poor patient outcomes.

Objective:

In this study, we designed and implemented a scalable, digital app-based, brief mindfulness and compassion program “WellMind” for healthcare professionals.

Methods:

In this study, we designed and implemented a scalable, digital app-based, brief mindfulness and compassion program “WellMind” for healthcare professionals. 22 adult participants completed up to 60 sessions of WellMind training, 5-10 minutes duration each, over 3 months. Participants completed behavioral assessments measuring self-compassion and mindfulness at baseline (pre), 3 months (post) and 6 months (follow-up). In order to control for placebo and practice effects and calculate effect sizes, we also studied a no-contact control group of 21 healthcare professionals who only completed the repeated assessments but were not provided any training. Additionally, we evaluated pre- and post- neural activity in core brain networks using electroencephalography (EEG) source imaging as an objective neurophysiological training outcome.

Results:

Findings showed post vs. pre increase in self-compassion (Cohen’s d = 0.57) and state-mindfulness (d = 0.52) only in the WellMind training group, with improvements in self-compassion sustained at follow-up (d = 0.8). Additionally, WellMind training durations correlated with magnitude of improvement in self-compassion across subjects ( = 0.52, p = 0.013). Training-related neurophysiological results revealed plasticity specific to the default mode network (DMN) that is implicated in mind-wandering and rumination, with DMN network suppression selectively observed at post-intervention in the WellMind group (d = -0.87). Additionally, improvement in self-compassion directly related to the extent of DMN suppression ( = -0.368, p = 0.038).

Conclusions:

Overall, promising behavioral and neurophysiological findings from this first study demonstrate the benefits of brief digital mindfulness and compassion training for healthcare professionals, and compel scale-up of the digital intervention.