Effectiveness of virtual mindfulness-based interventions on perceived anxiety and depression of physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pre-post experimental study

Abstract

BackgroundThe outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) created unprecedented stress on physicians. Mindfulness is a type of meditation that focuses on being fully present, aware of senses, and emotions in the present moment without analyzing or judging them, and it may help reduce psychological distress in physicians. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of virtual mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on physicians’ perceived anxiety and depression and different facets of mindfulness.MethodsDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, an online survey was administered to physicians to assess depression, anxiety, and awareness using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 7-item General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and Five-Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), respectively. Physicians that received the virtual MBI sessions also completed post-questionnaires at a 3-week follow-up time point.ResultsA total of 125 physicians responded to the online survey, with 56 completing the MBI. The prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety and depression was 45.0 and 46.7%, respectively. Mindfulness scores were negatively associated with depression (r = −0.38, P < 0.001) and anxiety (r = −0.36, p < 0.001). Mindfulness scores for the 56 physicians who received virtual MBI sessions were significantly improved (mean difference ± SD, 17.7 ± 16.1, p = 0.001). Significant reductions were also evidenced in anxiety (4.4 ± 4.2) and depression (4.5 ± 5.1) scores (p’s < 0.001). There was also an improvement in mindfulness facets of observing (5.1 ± 4.7), describing (2.3 ± 4.3), acting with awareness (2.7 ± 5.3), non-judging of inner experience (3.6 ± 6.1), and non-reactivity to inner experience (3.9 ± 4.0) (p’s < 0.001). A facet of mindfulness, acting with awareness was most efficiently associated with improved anxiety (B = −0.3, p = 0.02) and depression (B = −0.4, p = 0.01).ConclusionThis study has demonstrated that virtual MBI improved physicians’ psychological wellbeing and mindfulness during the crisis. Regular mindfulness practice may help physicians to tolerate and handle unpleasant circumstances, such as future epidemics or pandemics.

Mapping the needs of healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients using the socio-ecological framework: a rapid scoping review

“…Interventions were mostly compared to a control group ( n = 12, 85.7%), such as a waitlist or no-intervention control ( n = 6 out of 12, 50.0%). In six studies (33.3%), individuals received a group psychological intervention with other HCWs [ 46 – 51 ], whereas in six studies (33.3%), individuals received 1:1 online or telephone counseling from a therapist [ 52 – 57 ]. Interventions were also delivered digitally through developed applications ( n = , 16.7%) [ 58 – 60 ] including written and audiovisual psychological exercises (e.g., mindfulness, CBT techniques), a developed platform [ 61 ] with videos, interactive exercises with written information, a developed website [ 62 ] with psychoeducational videos and exercises and a web-based stress management intervention [ 63 ] based on ACT as developed by WHO including audiorecordings and illustrated exercises.…”

Are we ready for the next pandemic? Lessons learned from healthcare professionals’ perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…Based on the findings and participant experiences, the availability of support groups, having a resident psychiatrist for one-to-one sessions, and mindfulness sessions can all meet their needs. An online mindfulness intervention used by HCPs in Kuwait during the pandemic demonstrated improved mental health outcomes ( 30 ). Peer support and mindfulness interventions were also suggested by HCPs in Spain during the pandemic ( 50 ).…”

“…Burnout has physical and emotional manifestations, such as mental and physical exhaustion, feelings of disillusionment, anger, headaches, and hypertension ( 28 ). In addition, HCPs in Kuwait reported high levels of anxiety and depression ( 29 , 30 ). There are many underlying rationales for the rise of mental health issues; fear and uncertainty leading to irrational behaviors, and peoples’ altered perception of risk due to the delay of detection and the novelty of the virus have contributed to this rise ( 6 ).…”

Effect of COVID-19 vaccine on blood glucose metrics in Arabic people with type 1 diabetes

“…Student’s paired t-tests were used to compare means for data with a normal distribution; otherwise, the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used. The effect size was calculated through Cohen’s d, and values 0.20, 0.40, and 0.60 indicate small, medium, and large effect sizes, respectively ( 19 , 20 ).…”