A Qualitative Study with Healthcare Staff Exploring the Facilitators and Barriers to Engaging in a Self-Help Mindfulness-Based Intervention

Abstract

In order to increase the cost-efficiency, availability and ease of accessing and delivering mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), clinical and research interest in mindfulness-based self-help (MBSH) interventions has increased in recent years. Several studies have shown promising results of effectiveness of MBSH. However, like all self-help interventions, dropout rates and disengagement from MBSH are high. The current study explored the facilitators and barriers of engaging in a MBSH intervention. Semi-structured interviews with members of healthcare staff who took part in an MBSH intervention (n = 16) were conducted. A thematic analysis approach was used to derive central themes around engagement from the interviews. Analyses resulted in four overarching themes characterising facilitation and hindrance to engagement in MBSH. These are “attitude towards engagement”, “intervention characteristics”, “process of change” and “perceived consequences”. Long practices, emerging negative thoughts and becoming self-critical were identified as the key hindrances, whilst need for stress reduction techniques, shorter practices and increased sense of agency over thoughts were identified as the key facilitators. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Mindfulness-Based Organisational Education: an Evaluation of a Mindfulness Course Delivered to Employees at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital

“…This contradicts previous findings suggesting that course dosage and length do not impact on stress (Burton et al 2017), but that improvements were found in needs fulfilment regardless of dosage and length is important, especially given the potential time constraints of healthcare workers, and warrants further investigation. As previous qualitative findings recommended (Banerjee et al 2017), the reduced time requirements and tailoring of MBOE classes to the workplace were likely helpful in being able to deliver it in a busy environment. That the employer was willing to supply this course and to help with a study is one potential reason that the course and study completion rates seem so promising.…”

“…Research suggests that mindfulness-based courses are particularly helpful for reducing stress in healthcare workers, regardless of technique, dosage and class length (Burton et al 2017). One study exploring the barriers and facilitators to participation in a mindfulness course offered to healthcare professionals found that courses were viewed as generally acceptable and positive feedback tended to depend on motivation and positive predisposition (Banerjee et al 2017). Participants struggled with longer practices however and the authors suggest tailoring a mindfulness course to meet time demands.…”

A Qualitative Study of Caregivers’ Experiences, Motivation and Challenges Using a Web-Based Mindfulness Intervention

“…The literature shows evidence of mindfulness based interventions' (MBIs) effectiveness in improving psychosocial and health outcomes for a variety of populations and contexts, including both non-clinical and clinical populations (de Vibe et al 2012), both face-to-face (de Vibe et al 2012;Keng et al 2011) and online (Boettcher et al 2013;Glück and Maercker 1 3 2011). There is a growing research interest in the efficacy of MBI's effects for specific populations, including health care professionals and caregivers (Banerjee et al 2017;Chiesa et al 2017). Studies of patient populations and their caregivers (Birnie et al 2010;Li et al 2016;Longacre 2013;Stonnington et al 2016) show beneficial effects of MBI (MBSR) regarding self-rated psychological symptoms (e.g.…”

Social Cognitions and Mental Health as Predictors of Adolescents’ Mindfulness Practice

“…School-based mindfulness programs aim to increase students' mental well-being, but it is also possible that initial mental health status predicts uptake of mindfulness practice. Qualitative and mixed method studies have found that participants frequently mention a desire to reduce mental health problems as a reason for practicing mindfulness (Banerjee et al 2017;Dariotis et al 2016;Laurie and Blandford 2016;Pepping et al 2016). Still, most young people with mental health problems do not seek help (Gulliver et al 2010).…”

“…People with mental health problems (e.g., depression) may feel helpless, i.e., that there is nothing that can be done to improve their mental health (Seligman 1974), which may hinder uptake of mindfulness practice. Indeed, quantitative studies have found that various mental health problems are associated with meditation program attrition or perceived barriers to meditation (Banerjee et al 2018;Crane and Williams 2010;Delmonte 1980Delmonte , 1984Delmonte , 1988Whitford and Warren 2019;Williams et al 2012;Williams et al 1976). Other studies have found that intention or practice itself is not associated with severity of problems (Bistricky et al 2018;Rizer et al 2016).…”