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Heartfulness meditation improves loneliness and sleep in physicians and advance practice providers during COVID-19 pandemic.
Thimmapuram, Jayaram; Pargament, Robert; Bell, Theodore; Schurk, Holly; Madhusudhan, Divya K.
  • Thimmapuram J; WellSpan York Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, York, PA.
  • Pargament R; WellSpan York Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, York, PA.
  • Bell T; WellSpan York Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, York, PA.
  • Schurk H; WellSpan York Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, York, PA.
  • Madhusudhan DK; Harvard Medical School, Department of Graduate Medical Education, Boston, MA.
Hosp Pract (1995) ; 49(3): 194-202, 2021 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1121091
ABSTRACT

Objective:

Unprecedented work pressures and social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic may worsen loneliness and sleep problems in health-care professionals. Heartfulness meditation has been shown to improve burnout and sleep. In the current study, the effects of remote Heartfulness meditation in improving loneliness and sleep quality were measured.

Methods:

Physicians and advance practice providers were randomly assigned to receive either daily Heartfulness Meditation program or no intervention (control group) in a prospective four-week randomized control study design. UCLA loneliness and PSQI scores were collected at baseline and after the program duration of 4 weeks. The study was retrospectively registered with trial Number, ISRCTN85787008 (8 January 2021).

Results:

Of the 155 subjects enrolled in the study, 50% were lonely and 97% had sleep problems. Attrition rate was 36%. Among those who completed the study, the mean UCLA loneliness scores decreased from 42.1 to 39.4 in the Heartfulness group (N = 40, p = 0.009) and 42.2 to 41.15 in the control group (N = 57, p = 0.254). The mean PSQI scores decreased from 10.75 to 9.14 in the Heartfulness group (N = 41, p = 0.001) and 9.41 to 8.87 in the control group (N = 58, p = 0.122). Younger participants aged 30 and under had higher loneliness and sleep problems.

Conclusions:

The current study is one of the first attempts to assess loneliness and sleep problems among physicians and advance practice providers during COVID-19 pandemic in the US. A significant burden of loneliness and sleep problems was identified. An improvement of sleep and loneliness was noted with the practice of Heartfulness meditation. This remote intervention might be a useful tool to be explored in larger studies.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Health Personnel / Meditation / Occupational Stress / COVID-19 / Loneliness Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Traditional medicine Limits: Adult / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Hosp Pract (1995) Journal subject: Hospitals Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 21548331.2021.1896858

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Health Personnel / Meditation / Occupational Stress / COVID-19 / Loneliness Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Traditional medicine Limits: Adult / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Hosp Pract (1995) Journal subject: Hospitals Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: 21548331.2021.1896858