Primary Care for Primary Care Clinicians

Key DFM Personnel

David Rakel, MD - Principal Investigator
Luke Fortney, MD - Co-Investigator
Aleksandra Zgierska, MD, PhD - Co-Investigator
Charlene Luchterhand, MSSW - Project Coordinator
Larissa Zakletskaia, MA - Database Manager

Funding

Mental Insight Foundation and Mai Family Foundation

Summary

This study is investigating the effects of mindfulness training on measures of job satisfaction, compassion, and quality of life for primary care clinicians.

Goal

Study goals are to test the effects of mindfulness training in a sample of primary care clinicians using the following standardized scales: the Maslach Burnout Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21, Resilience Scale, and the Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale. Additional questions ask about the study participants' mindfulness practice, the perceived helpfulness of the training, and the helpfulness of an on-line module on mindfulness.

Methodology

Thirty primary care clinicians (MDs, DOs, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants) from Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics were recruited to receive 18 hours of mindfulness training through one of two specially designed weekend retreats with two evening follow-up sessions. Study participants are encouraged to practice 10-20 minutes of mindfulness-related activity daily and are asked to anonymously complete four sets of surveys administered electronically using the web-based survey system, Qualtrics. Surveys take about 15-30 minutes to complete and are administered: 1) before the training starts, 2) right after the training ends, 3) 8 weeks after the training ends, and 4) 9 months after the training ends. An optional component at the end of the third survey invites study participants to evaluate an online teaching module for clinicians on creating a mindful office visit with patients and to support daily mindfulness practice.