Evaluation of easy-to-implement anti-stress interventions in a series of N-of-1 trials: Study protocol of the Anti-Stress Intervention Among Physicians Study (ASIP)
medRxiv – April 22, 2024
Source: medRxiv/bioRxiv/arXiv
Summary
Chronic stress can significantly impact physicians, leading to errors and strained patient relationships. This study explores how simple daily breathwork and mindfulness exercises can reduce stress in doctors. By assessing individual responses through tailored trials, it aims to demonstrate these interventions' effectiveness in enhancing well-being.
Abstract
Background Adverse effects of chronically high levels of stress on physical and mental health are well established. In physicians, the effects of elevated stress levels exceed the individual level and include treatment errors and reduced quality of patient-doctor relationships. Breathing and mindfulness-based exercises have been shown to reduce stress and could serve as an immediate and easy-to-implement anti-stress intervention among physicians. Due to the heterogeneity of their effect on stress, we aim to evaluate the intervention effect of performing a short daily breathwork-based or mindfulness-based intervention on the everyday level of perceived stress in physicians in residence in Germany in a series of N-of-1 trials.