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. 2022 May 20;38(2):225–238. doi: 10.1177/08258597221100330

Table 2.

Overview of Studies

Date, Journal Authors Title Intervention Design Training Length Study Duration Sample Attrition at Beginning, Middle, End Measures Results Ratings from Reviewers Range of Possible Scores 0-21
2020, Progress in Palliative Care Alison C. Essary, Mark Lussier, Noah Stone, Barbara Volk-Craft & Gillian Hamilton Reflections on the integration of a narrative medicine and mindfulness program in hospice and palliative care 90 minutes’ initial training in poetry or mindfulness, then a 30-minute intervention, once weekly. Poetry assignments completed with a patient. Pilot. RCT; pre = post (at 12 weeks)
1.5 Hours
12 Weeks		 n = 43. randomized into 3 groups: poetry (n = 14), mindfulness (n = 14), and usual care (n = 15). The first 30 participants received a monetary incentive of $50. 43, 43, 43 The Jefferson Empathy Scale (JSE). 2-Question Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Weekly journals. Significant reduction in depersonalisation scores for both poetry & mindfulness groups. No other statistically significant findings. No details given on mindfulness intervention, no data tables sent by author. Authors state that not all participants completed the recommended amount of meditation, and that participation was not consistent. 11
2016, Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science Gerhart, James; O’Mahoney, Sean; Abrams, Ira; Grosse, Johanna; Greene, Michelle; Levy, Mitchell A pilot test of a mindfulness-based communication training to enhance resilience in palliative care professionals ACCEPTS (Aware Compassionate Communication: an Experiential Provider Training Series) Group exercises, meditation and role plays & didactics. 10 sessions: 2 half-day sessions and 8, 1.5-2 hour weekly sessions. Pre-midpoint-post test
22 Hours
8 Weeks		 N = 17 Palliative care providers recruited from local (in the US) hospices. 21, 17, 11 Acceptance and Action Questionnaire Version II (AAQ II); Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire; Beck Depression Inventory-II; Maslach Burnout Inventory-II; PTSD Symptom Checklist (Civilian) - PLC-C; Mindfulness Practice Log Significant reduction in: Cognitive fusion; depersonalisation; BDI-II depression symptoms; PTSD Re-experiencing subscale of PCL-C. Non-significant reduction in: experiential avoidance; emotional exhaustion. Non statistically significant change in PTSD total scores; PTSD avoidance, PTSD hyperarousal. 16
2017, American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine O'Mahoney, S., Gerhart, J., Abrams, I., Greene, M., McFadden, R., Tamizuddin, S., Levy, M. A Multimodal Mindfulness Training to Address Mental Health Symptoms in Providers Who Care for and Interact With Children in Relation to End-of-life Care 9 psychoeducation sessions: 2 half-day and 7, 2-hour sessions Pre-midpoint-post test
22 Hours
8 Weeks		 N = 13 medical providers of children facing life-threatening illnesses, or bereaved children 13, 13, 13 Acceptance and Action Questionnaire Version II (AAQ II); Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire; Beck Depression Inventory-II; Maslach Burnout Inventory-II; PTSD Symptom Checklist (Civilian) - PLC-C Participation in the pilot was associated with significant reductions in depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among providers ( 16
2017, BMC PALLIATIVE CARE Orellana-Rios, Claudia L.; Radbruch, Lukas; Kern, Martina; Regel, Yesche U.; Anton, Andreas; Sinclair, Shane; Schmidt, Stefan Mindfulness and compassion-oriented practices at work reduce distress and enhance self-care of palliative care teams: a mixed-method evaluation of an on the job program 10 weeks training. Practice days at the hospital (8 h, 2 shifts);

  • Brief Meditation sessions in small groups every hour (15 Minutes).

  • 1:1s with teacher on the half hour to discuss transfer (Max. 30 Minutes)

  • 3 sessions with all participants (1 h) at week 4, 6 and 10 to discuss embedding of practices in daily work-life and feedback. Informal practice

  • Mindful breaks

  • Walking Meditation

  • Mindful stops/ Practice anchors during daily work routines

  • Metta/Tong-len practice Homework

  • Meditation at home with CD

  • Metta Sentences during leisure time

  • Posters in staff rooms

 Pre-post, observational pilot study. Qualitative, self-report data and cortisol measurements
25 Hours
10 Weeks		 n = 28 staff members of an interdisciplinary palliative care team faith-based community hospital in Bonn, Germany, 28, 28, 26 Perceived Stress Questionnaire, the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the somatic complaints subscale of the SCL-90-R, the Emotion Regulation Skills Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and a Goal Attainment Scale that assessed two individual goals. Semi-structured interviews Significant reductions in anxiety, emotional exhaustion (EE).
Personal accomplishment (PA) increased significantly. No significant differences were found for somatization and depression. Total PSQ score and scores of the PSQ subscales worries, tension and demands were significantly reduced. Increases in general joy (PSQ subscale). Work enjoyment increased significantly. In the area of emotion regulation, awareness and resilience showed significant and substantial improvement. No significant changes in cortisol levels.		 17
2019, JOURNAL OF PALLIATIVE MEDICINE Podgurski, L., Greco, C., Croom, A., Arnold, R., Claxton, R. A Brief Mindfulness-Based Self-Care Curriculum for an Interprofessional Group of Palliative Care Providers 5 monthly, 1-hour sessions. Meditation Pre, post (1 week) post (7 month)
5 Hours
820Weeks		 29 mixed-professional-background usual-attendees of a monthly educational conference in a well-established palliative care group within an academic medical center. 29, 29, 27 Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Ten-item Perceived Stress Scale), report of use of informal and formal mindfulness techniques, narrative data, and satisfaction ratings Statistically significant improvements in mindfulness and mindfulness practices, sustained for seven months. Burnout levels in this group were much lower than reported national rates; no statistically significant change was seen in burnout over the study period. Narrative data demonstrated retention of curricular content. Participants reported high satisfaction with the intervention m 16
2018, Psychosocial Intervention Noemí Sansó, Laura Galiana, Amparo Oliver, Paz Cuesta, Cilia Sánchez, Enric Benito Evaluation of a mindfulness intervention in palliative care teams MBI of 6 weeks, 12 contact hours + individual practice between sessions. Sessions covered aspects of mindfulness; self-awareness, present moment, working with negative emotions, breathing, body sensing, meditation, reactions & avoidance. Teaching lectures as well as meditations. Pre-post, pre-experimental 12 Hours 6 Weeks N = 36. 2 groups of 18: group 1 = direct healthcare providers, MDs, nurses, physiotherapists, nurses' aides. Groups 2 was psychologists, social workers, managers, etc) 46, 36, 36 Five-Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire, FFMQ; Self-Compassion Scale; Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL Large significant effects on all FFMQ subscales except self-awareness, which was medium. Self-Compassion Scale, significant improvement in self-benevolence & mindfulness, not significant universal humanity, significant decreases in overidentification, isolation & self-judging. ProQOL; significant decrease in Compassion Fatigue and risk of Burnout; Significant increase (medium effect) in Compassion. Satisfaction 12