268. THE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF YOGA THERAPY ON BURNOUT AMONG MEDICAL STAFF: A SINGLE-ARM PRE-POST INTERVENTION

Abstract Background Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, disrupts the harmony between the mind and body, underscoring the importance of concise and practical interventions to mitigate its impact in medical settings. Yoga therapy has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating anxiety and depression among both healthy individuals and patients with severe mental illnesses. However, there is limited research on the effects of short-term yoga interventions specifically targeting burnout among medical staff. Aims & Objectives This study aims to evaluate the effects of a two-week yoga therapy program on burnout among medical staff. Method We conducted a single-arm pre-post intervention study over two weeks, involving medical and co-medical staff at the general hospital of Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan. The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board (UMIN: 000044465). The intervention included in-person and online yoga sessions held twice weekly, totaling four sessions of 60 minutes each. Primary outcomes measured included participant enrollment, completion rate, and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8 (CSQ-8). Secondary outcomes assessed burnout levels using the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS) and included other metrics: blood pressure, heart rate variability, alpha-amylase activity, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and the Resilience Scale (RS). Assessments were conducted at baseline (registration), after the first session, after the fourth session, and at one-week and four-week follow-ups. This ongoing study aims to recruit 42 participants. Preliminary statistical analysis was conducted using R, employing analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results Preliminary findings are based on data from 21 participants (mean age: 42.2 ± 9.5 years; 9.5% male), of whom 19 (90.4%) completed all four sessions. The mean CSQ-8 score was 27.7 ± 3.7, reflecting high satisfaction with the intervention. While the total MBI-GS score showed no significant improvement, reductions were observed in GAD-7 scores (from 5.2 ± 3.2 to 2.8 ± 2.8, p < 0.05) and PHQ-9 scores (from 6.7 ± 4.0 to 3.2 ± 4.0, p < 0.05). Additionally, EQ-5D scores improved from 67.1 ± 15.5 to 75.2 ± 16.4 (p < 0.05). These improvements were sustained at the four-week follow-up. However, no significant changes were observed in SDS, RS, or PSQI during the short-term intervention period. Discussion & Conclusions This preliminary analysis highlights the positive effects of a two-week Hatha yoga intervention on anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL) among medical staff. These findings suggest that hybrid yoga sessions may help mitigate burnout risks among healthcare professionals. However, the short-term nature of these benefits indicates a need for further investigation to identify strategies for enhancing and sustaining the observed improvements. Limitations include a small sample size and a short intervention duration. This study is still in progress, with a planned enrollment of 42 participants. Future research should explore optimized intervention designs to achieve long-term therapeutic effects for reducing burnout in medical staff.