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Zúñiga D, Torres-Sahli M, Nitsche P, et al. Reduced burnout and higher mindfulness in medical students after a self-care program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rev Med Chil. 2021;149(6):846-855doi: 10.4067/s0034-98872021000600846.
Zúñiga, D., Torres-Sahli, M., Nitsche, P., Echeverría, G., Pedrals, N., Grassi, B., Cisternas, M., Rigotti, A., & Bitran, M. (2021). Reduced burnout and higher mindfulness in medical students after a self-care program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Revista medica de Chile, 149(6), 846-855. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0034-98872021000600846
Zúñiga, Denisse, et al. "Reduced burnout and higher mindfulness in medical students after a self-care program during the COVID-19 pandemic." Revista medica de Chile vol. 149,6 (2021): 846-855. doi: https://doi.org/10.4067/s0034-98872021000600846
Zúñiga D, Torres-Sahli M, Nitsche P, Echeverría G, Pedrals N, Grassi B, Cisternas M, Rigotti A, Bitran M. Reduced burnout and higher mindfulness in medical students after a self-care program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rev Med Chil. 2021 Jun;149(6):846-855. doi: 10.4067/s0034-98872021000600846. PMID: 34751343.
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Rev Med Chil. 2021 Jun;149(6):846-855. doi: 10.4067/s0034-98872021000600846.

Reduced burnout and higher mindfulness in medical students after a self-care program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Revista medica de Chile

Denisse Zúñiga, Manuel Torres-Sahli, Pía Nitsche, Guadalupe Echeverría, Nuria Pedrals, Bruno Grassi, Marcela Cisternas, Attilio Rigotti, Marcela Bitran

Affiliations

  1. Centro de Educación Médica y Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
  2. Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
  3. Departamento de Nutrición Diabetes y Metabolismo, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
  4. Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.

PMID: 34751343 DOI: 10.4067/s0034-98872021000600846

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Medical students experience high levels of psychological stress during clinical training. However, most medical curricula do not teach self-care skills. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted medical education causing increased distress among students.

AIM: To report the implementation and impact of an eight-week multifaceted mindfulness-based self-care program on medical students' distress and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-three fourth-year medical students attended the program as part of a mandatory course from April to May 2020, during the rising phase of COVID-19 in Chile. They were evaluated using validated tests before and immediately after the program. The measures included burnout, dispositional mindfulness, perceived stress, traumatic stress reactions, general well-being, resilience, and stress coping strategies.

RESULTS: Burnout prevalence decreased from 48% to 24%, whereas students with high dispositional mindfulness increased from 25% to 44%. Burnout reduction was mostly due to decreased emotional exhaustion. Additionally, students reported lower levels of stress, self-blaming, and traumatic stress reactions alongside an increased use of active coping strategies and resilience levels after the program.

CONCLUSIONS: A formal educational intervention, teaching self-awareness and self-regulation skills can help reduce medical students' distress and promote their well-being even amidst a pandemic.

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