Elliott M, Khallouf C, Hirsch J, de Camps Meschino D, Zamir O, Ravitz P
Novel Web-Based Drop-In Mindfulness Sessions (Pause-4-Providers) to Enhance Well-Being Among Health Care Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Descriptive and Qualitative Study JMIR Form Res 2024;8:e43875 URL: https://formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e43875 DOI: 10.2196/43875
Pause4-Providers Program Overview
The study focused on the development and evaluation of the Pause4-Providers program, which provided brief, live web-based drop-in mindfulness sessions for healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program structure included 30-minute sessions led by expert facilitators via a secure Zoom platform. The sessions were designed to be flexible, adaptive to changing needs, and anonymous, with participants joining without disclosing personal information. The sessions maintained a semi-structured agenda, beginning with a brief “check-in” to determine the needs of the participants who were present, the introduction of an appropriate ‘theme” based on the immediate needs identified. During the remaining half hour the facilitator guided participants in two short mindfulness practices as well as a “micro practice” of no longer than one minute duration which was intended to provide a tool for stress management on-demand in the middle of a busy shift. All content aligned with mindfulness and self-compassion principles. The sessions also incorporated various mindfulness techniques based on HCW needs and emotions, promoting positive emotions, compassion, and coping skills.
Resource Intensity and Program Evaluation
The live web-based mindfulness sessions were resource-intensive, relying on faculty facilitators, and required a dedicated team for sustainability. Initially, eight evening sessions per week were offered, but the frequency was reduced to once a week as the pandemic continued. Program evaluation utilized quantitative and qualitative methods.
There were 1,333 attendance entries (unique individuals were counted as an entry for each session attended) at the drop-in sessions. Consent was obtained from eighty-eight respondents of whom fifty were included in the descriptive analysis and fifteen in the qualitative interviews.
The descriptive analysis revealed high levels of satisfaction. Feedback highlighted stress management, relaxation, and learning mindfulness as motivations for attendance.
Qualitative interviews conducted with a sub-set of participants demonstrated positive impacts, such as better stress management, improved self-awareness, and enhanced coping skills. Participants valued the diverse range of mindfulness techniques taught, the anonymity of the sessions, and the communal nature of the program. Faculty guidance on integrating mindfulness into daily life and self-directed resources were noted as enablers for program adoption, while barriers included competing demands, the need for a quiet space for mindfulness practice, and concerns about vulnerability during sessions. Overall, the Pause4-Providers program was found to be feasible, acceptable, and highly satisfactory among HCWs, emphasizing the importance of its format, content, and focus on self-care, stress management, and connection in supporting HCWs’ well-being during the pandemic. Further research on the sustained impact of the program post-pandemic is recommended.
