Mindfulness based living: an exploratory study with health care staff

There is a substantial body of research that highlights the
causes and negative implications that prolonged exposure to
stress may have for health care staff (HCS). In an attempt to
address this, this exploratory study examines the effects of the
Mindfulness Based Living Course (MBLC) on a mixed group of
HCS when delivered during the working day. A total of 31 HCS
participated in this pilot study. Self-reported perceived stress,
self-compassion and mindfulness were measured at the
beginning and end of the 8-week course and pre and postchange
scores showed that significant improvements were
obtained across all three measures. Qualitative data was also
collected from participants using pre and post-course forms.
A thematic analysis of this data uncovered a variety of
benefits for the participants, including becoming more selfaware,
improvements in sleep, relaxation and
communication with others. Participants also reported an
improved ability to manage and respond to difficult or
challenging situations and the ability to manage and prioritise
their own health and well-being. The challenges associated
with participation in the MBLC were finding the time to
practice, coping with work and family related pressures, and
dealing with difficult emotions that arose during practice. The
results of this study suggest that participation in an 8-week
MBLC is associated with significant benefits for HCS in relation
to their health and well-being. This suggests a need for
continued research in this area to help staff manage stress
levels and to improve staff well-being. Ultimately this is likely to
impact upon staff absence levels and patient care.
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