Applied Mindfulness for Physicians: A Prospective Qualitative Study

Background: Physician burnout is increasingly recognized as having adverse impacts on the wellbeing of individual physicians, and by extension the healthcare delivery systems of which they are part. Amidst growing evidence showing increased physician burnout, mindfulness has been recommended as one potential approach for addressing physician burnout and enhancing physician wellbeing. Few empirical studies have been published on Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) adapted for physicians, and none based on the foundational teachings of internationally renowned scholar, Zen Master and Noble Peace Prize Nominee Thích Nhất Hạnh. Moreover, the majority of these studies have been quantitative, leaving a gap in understanding the lived experience and practical application of mindfulness in the context of physicians’ daily lives. Methods: Through a prospective qualitative study, forty-five physicians participated in a five-week Applied Mindfulness Program for Medical Personnel (AMP-MP) on-site at a tertiary care hospital in Toronto, Canada. The program content, based on the teachings of Thích Nhất Hạnh, was tailored to meet the interests and needs specific to the population of physicians. To inform this innovative and novel approach, an iterative reciprocal relationship was established with Thích Nhất Hạnh’s international Plum Village community. Following participation in AMP-MP, semi-structured interviews were completed with twenty-eight program participants. Interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using thematic analysis. To develop rigorous high-quality qualitative research, the study was theoretically grounded in the interpretive paradigm and utilized the middle range theory the Mechanisms of Mindfulness for analysis and interpretation. Results: Based on participants’ accounts, a thematic map was developed that illustrates a learning pathway for developing mindfulness in five phases: 1) Initial intention; 2) Establishing a mindful environment; 3) Development and application of practices concepts; 4) Broadening the conceptualization of mindfulness; and 5) Mindfulness becomes “a way of life”. The data indicates that participants developed a foundational competency in Applied Mindfulness that benefitted their personal sense of wellbeing, along with enhancing their interactions with their patients, colleagues and administrators. While these findings are encouraging, further research is needed to identify necessary systems-level changes to support broader implementation and long-term maintenance of mindfulness.Ph.D