Do as I Do: Physician- and Learner-Led Mind-Body Medicine Group Visits

Area of Science:

• Integrative Medicine
• Primary Care
• Medical Education

Background:

• Chronic conditions pose challenges for primary care clinicians and medical learners.
• Mind-body medicine (MBM) interventions show promise for various health conditions.
• MBM training is linked to reduced clinician burnout and increased job satisfaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot physician-led Mind-body Medicine (MBM) collaborative visits facilitated by medical learners.
• To assess the efficacy of MBM collaborative visits for patients with complex chronic needs.

Main Methods:

• Eight weekly 2.5-hour MBM interventions were conducted for groups of 5-8 participants (52 total).
• Nine health indicators, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), were measured pre- and post-intervention.
• Matched-pair t-tests and Hedges' g were used to analyze changes in health indicators and effect sizes.

Main Results:

• Significant, large improvements were observed in PHQ-9 scores (P<.005, g=0.807).
• Moderate improvements were noted in stress coping (P<.005, g=0.502) and perceived mental health (P<.05, g=0.424).
• Participants also showed enhanced sense of control over diagnoses (P<.05, g=0.413).

Conclusions:

• Physician-led MBM collaborative visits are a feasible, reproducible, and reimbursable treatment for improving patient care.
• The intervention led to significant improvements in patient outcomes, particularly mental health.
• This model supports medical learners by immersing them in evidence-based practices and promoting professional satisfaction.