Table 1.
Main Characteristics of the Reviewed Studies
| Author/Year/Ref No./Location | Study Design | Sample Size | Intervention (See Table 2 for Details) | Main Findings | QA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Kemper (2017);22 USA | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 178 | Three 1h online mindfulness modules | Small but significant increase in mindfulness scores | 11 |
| 2. Dobkin (2016);23 France | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 27 | 8-week MBSR | Significant reductions in stress and burnout; increase in mindfulness and meaningfulness | 11 |
| 3. Kemper et al (2015);24 USA | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 513 | 12 1h online modules; mind-body skills training programme | Acute improvements in stress levels, mindfulness, empathy and resilience | 11 |
| 4. Goodman et al (2012);25 USA | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 93 | 8-week MBSR + 1-day retreat | Significant reduction in burnout scores and improvements in mental well-being | 10 |
| 5. Asuero et al (2014);26 Spain | Randomized controlled trial | 68 | 8-week mindfulness training and group discussions + 1-day retreat | Improvement in all measured scales – total mood disturbance, mindfulness, burnout and empathy | 12.5 |
| 6. Sallon et al (2015);27 Israel | Prospective non-randomized pre-post controlled intervention study | 215 | Caring for caregivers – 8 months of weekly workshops | Significant improvements in quality of work, decrease in symptoms of perceived stress and emotional exhaustion associated with burnout | 10.5 |
| 7. Moody et al (2013);28 USA, Israel | Randomized controlled pilot study | 48 | 8-week mindfulness training | No significant improvement in scores of burnout, perceived stress or depression | 12.5 |
| 8. Abeni et al (2014);29 Italy | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 34 | Modified “Balint Group” method according to a mindfulness technique | Development of more adaptive ways of using defence mechanisms | 10 |
| 9. Lamothe et al (2018);30 Canada | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 37 | 8-week MBSR | Significant improvements in perspective taking, identification of one’s own emotions, and emotional acceptance | 11.5 |
| 10. Gracia Gozalo et al (2019);31 Spain | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 32 | 8-week mindfulness training | A decrease in emotional exhaustion and an increase in self-compassion | 11 |
| 11. Suyi et al (2017);32 Singapore | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 37 | Modified MBSR | Significant improvements in four of the five mindfulness facets and compassion levels; gains maintained at 3 months follow-up | 11 |
| 12. Steinberg et al (2017);33 USA | Randomized controlled pilot study | 32 | 8-week mindfulness training | Significant increase in work satisfaction which negatively correlated with burnout | 12.5 |
| 13. Kemper et al (2015);34 USA | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 103 | Online MBS training – 12 1h modules | Significant improvements in stress, mindfulness, and confidence in providing calm, compassionate care | 11.5 |
| 14. Barattucci et al (2019);35 Italy | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 602 | IARA training programme | Improvement in emotional regulation, anxiety and stress 6 months after intervention | 11.5 |
| 15. Janssen et al (2020);36 Netherlands | Prospective non-randomized pre-post intervention study | 30 | MBSR | Significant improvements in mindfulness, burnout dimension PA, quality of sleep, positive emotions and self-efficacy | 10.5 |
Abbreviations: QA, quality assessment; USA, United States of America; MBSR, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction; MBS, Mind Body Skills; IARA, an Italian acronym translatable into meeting, compliance, responsibility, autonomy.