Impact of a Blended Web-Based Mindfulness Programme for General Practitioners: a Pilot Study

• Published in: Mindfulness Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 129 - 139
• Main Authors: Montero-Marin, Jesus, Gaete, Jorge, Araya, Ricardo, Demarzo, Marcelo, Manzanera, Rick, Álvarez de Mon, Melchor, García-Campayo, Javier
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.02.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Child and School Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Family physicians; Intervention; Meditation; Mindfulness; Online instruction; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Psychology; Public Health; Social Sciences; Spain; Mindfulness programme; Well-being; Blended intervention; General practitioners; Affects
• ISSN: 1868-8527; 1868-8535
• DOI: 10.1007/s12671-017-0752-8

General practitioners (GPs) report high levels of distress. This study examined whether a brief blended web-based mindfulness intervention could be effective at enhancing well-being for GPs and assessed the possible mediating role of awareness. An open uncontrolled trial, with pre-post measurements, was conducted. The programme comprised one face-to-face meeting (4 h) and eight online practice sessions with no support (two weekly sessions over 4 weeks). The primary outcome was positive affect (PANAS-positive). The secondary outcomes were as follows: negative affect (PANAS-negative), awareness (MAAS), resilience (CDRISC), and the burnout subtypes (BCSQ-12). Mixed-effects analysis for repeated measures and mediation analysis by regression models were performed. Two hundred ninety Spanish GPs took part in the study, attending the face-to-face meeting. Nearly one out 10 participants ( n  = 28) completed ‘one weekly practice’, and 10.4% ( n  = 30) accomplished ‘two or more weekly practices’. There were benefits for those with ‘two or more weekly practices’ in PANAS-positive ( B  = 2.97; p  = 0.007), and MAAS ( B  = 4.65; p  = 0.023). We found no benefits for those with ‘one weekly practice’ in any of the outcomes. There were mediating effects of MAAS in PANAS-positive (explaining a 60.8% of total effects). A brief blended mindfulness intervention, with minimum face-to-face contact and web-based practice sessions, seems to confer improvements in the well-being of Spanish GPs. The benefits may be mediated by awareness. The implementation of this kind of programme might enhance the well-being among GPs, but there is a need to improve adherence to practice. Further research using randomized controlled designs will be needed to support the evidence found in our study.