Exploring the use of mindfulness for prevention of burnout in allied health professionals in Singapore

Background:
Burnout is becoming increasingly prevalent among healthcare professionals where it impacts quality of care and staff turnover, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. One promising strategy to reduce burnout is the use of mindfulness-based programs, which may aid allied health professionals (AHPs).

Objective:
To explore the usefulness of a 10-week mindfulness program on reducing burnout symptoms in AHPs in Singapore, as well as to identify AHPs’ attitudes and perceptions towards adopting mindfulness in practice.

Methods:
In this mixed methods study, a purposive sample (n=8) of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and therapy assistants were recruited. Participants underwent a mindfulness program, comprising 5 face-to-face sessions every other week for 10 weeks. Quantitative data were collected at pre- and post-intervention stages using a survey on participant characteristics and the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel to assess burnout symptoms. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews.

Results:
There was a decrease in emotional exhaustion scores (34.50 to 25.50, p=0.012) while depersonalization (p =0.107) and personal accomplishment (p =0.062) scores showed no significant changes. Qualitative benefits reported include increased introspection, improved emotional regulation and communication, and fostering of supportive workplace culture. Advocacy from superiors and the perceived effectiveness of mindfulness techniques can facilitate the adoption of the mindfulness program.

Conclusion:
A 10-week mindfulness program reduced burnout symptoms, specifically emotional exhaustion, among AHPs. Future studies should explore the application of the program within a larger participant sample to develop an optimal model for feasible and pragmatic adoption within the clinical setting.