A Brief Mindfulness-Based Intervention Pilot Study: Lessons Learned in Feasibility and Acceptability Among Healthcare Professionals Experiencing Burnout

We explored the feasibility of a virtual-reality delivered mindfulness training intervention on burnout symptoms among corporate employees and clinicians in the Intensive Care Unit and Palliative Care Unit (PCU). To develop the VR mindfulness intervention we leveraged the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior model (COM-B) as a guide for the design and implementation of the VR mindfulness training intervention. Using a pre-posttest within subjects design we assessed burnout syndrome, job stress and work-related outcomes such as workplace behavior using self-reported measures at baseline and one-month follow up. Due to COVID-19 we were unable to assess 3-month follow-up. Feasibility was measured based on the number of times participants returned for subsequent sessions. Pearson’s correlation shows that more distress and mindfulness were positively related in clinical employees. For corporate employees we saw an increase in mindfulness pre and post-test and a reduction in counterproductive work behavior. However, the co-efficient alpha for the counterproductive work behavior scale was -0.51, therefore results should be interpreted with caution. Lastly, we identified barriers to feasibility in recruitment and retention of participants. The results of the present study hold potential for future interventions to reduce job stress and burnout through virtual reality mindfulness-based interventions.