Review and analysis of the existing scientific articles is an essential step in creating new academic knowledge. Qualitative studies contribute to the exploration of specific fields of research, which is why it is paramount to pay attention to their findings. The article under analysis delves into the problem of finding a successful intervention for burnout and stress issues in health care professionals. The authors developed a mindfulness curriculum that, as they claim, could significantly reduce the presence of adverse psychological side effects of the medical profession. In this paper, a qualitative part of the mixed-methods research of stress and burnout reduction strategies conducted by Kinser, Braun, Deeb, Carrico, and Dow (2016) will be examined and critically reviewed.
Background of Study
The clinical problem of the research is the prevalence of burnout in medical workers and the costs that it incurs on the health care system. The authors developed an 8-week mindfulness curriculum that was projected to become an effective strategy to reduce stress and burnout. The identified clinical problem is multifaceted and may require multiple solutions as some of them might be less effective in varied environments.
The knowledge gap was explicitly in the absence of application methods of mindfulness-related interventions for health care professionals. The study’s significance is imbued with the notion that the successful introduction of this method could help health care professionals better cope with stress and avoid burnout. The study aimed to “evaluate the preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and effects of the 8-week mindfulness curriculum” could help solve the clinical problem or at least mitigate its consequences (Kinser et al., 2018, p. 22). The research questions concerned the feasibility, acceptability of the tool, change levels in stress, and a sense of personal accomplishment. The aim of the study and research questions were directly related to the clinical problem.
Method of Study
The qualitative methods seem to be appropriate for this study as they aimed to assess the perceived personal accomplishment and feasibility of the tool. The authors did not specify any perspective from which the study was developed. The researchers cited in their research multiple works with both qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method results as well as books and manuscripts. Most of the references were current, yet older qualitative studies were also used.
The literature was examined in part to establish the scientific basis and to evaluate the level of research in this sphere. Specific drawbacks of the studies were not identified, yet the authors mentioned the poorly researched areas. The literature review included proof of the effectiveness of the mindfulness intervention in other spheres, which led the authors to believe that it could be helpful in health care. Therefore, they built a solid foundation and established a clear logic of their argument. As for the framework, it was not developed, probably due to the narrow scope of the study.
Results of Study
The study identified that the participants who successfully completed the 8-week mindfulness curriculum demonstrated a statistically significant positive change in their perceived stress, anxiety, burnout, and depersonalization levels (Kinser et al., 2018). The main implication for nursing is that the method that was previously used in spheres other than health care could be helpful to curb the adverse effects of stress and burnout among nurses and other medical personnel.
The results impact practice due to the fact that nurses who complete the mindfulness curriculum tend to become more resilient to the adverse psychological effects of their continuous training. Such a change means that nurses may provide the best quality care on a stable basis. The study also contributes to nursing education by the fact that this practice may be introduced as a part of study programs in colleges and universities.
Ethical Considerations
The study was approved by the Virginia Commonwealth University Institutional Review Board, which adds to its quality and reliability of the presented data (Kinser et al., 2018). The participates’ names and other personal details that could help identify them were not included in the study, and, therefore, their anonymity was preserved. The authors did not discuss the ethical considerations in the course of their study report. However, from the nature of the questionnaire they administered for data collection and the description of the intervention design, it could be grasped that no ethical code violation took place. In addition, this fact is partly guaranteed by the approval of the Institutional Review Board.
Conclusion
The importance of the thesis statement is emphasized by the fact that the study actually proposes an adequate tool for decreasing burnout and stress levels among medical professionals. In addition, it could be pointed out that the possible usability of the method is relatively high. The congruity of the thesis statement can be seen in the logical sequence of the authors’ views and the groundedness of their research in the practical and educational problems in the sphere of health care.
The study results identify that the ability of a person to self-regulate and control their emotional responses could be expertly trained and influenced by the specific psychological interventions. The mere knowledge of the dangers of stress and burnout as well as coping mechanisms that were taught in the curriculum may be a valuable technique for reducing burnout in nurses.
Moreover, the professionals and students who participated in the study reported the essential nature of the course and were optimistic about using the technique in their other practice (Kinser et al., 2018). Another important takeaway is that the study results are consistent with the previous research dedicated to mindfulness-based curriculums and psychological issues. This fact supports the authors’ remark that the method can be somewhat helpful in multiple spheres and reduce adverse work effects among different professionals.
In regard to nursing practice, the study contributes immeasurably to the practical and educational aspects of nursing conduct. As the authors’ have proved by their research, the mindfulness intervention could be rather helpful in reducing stress and subsequent burnout. Given that fact, it may indirectly decrease the costs associated with these adverse psychological side effects and increase the size of the contribution that nurses provide to the health and wellbeing of patients.
The applicability of the findings resides with the fact that the method requires relatively modest investments while delivering substantial results. The knowledge gathered from the article under analysis includes the fact that mindfulness-related interventions could be successfully implemented among nurses and other health care professionals. This knowledge may be transitioned into practice through team buildings. In addition, it was definitely an advantage to learn of the educational value of this initiative, which can be proposed to the developers of nursing education curriculums in colleges and universities.
Reference
Kinser, P., Braun, S., Deeb, G., Carrico, C., & Dow, A. (2016). “Awareness is the first step”: An interprofessional course on mindfulness & mindful-movement for healthcare professionals and students. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 25, 18–25.