Collective pause: improving staff performance in acute medicine through a brief mindfulness-based group programme

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Mindfulness-Based Interventions
• Teamwork and Communication

Background:

• Hospital wards are complex environments requiring optimal staff performance.
• Limited research exists on group interventions to enhance staff attention and teamwork in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a daily, short, guided group mindfulness practice on staff attention and teamwork within an acute general medicine team.

Main Methods:

• A 10-minute daily mindfulness program was delivered to a multidisciplinary team for 4 weeks, preceding interdisciplinary ward rounds.
• A mixed-method design included self-rated surveys for mindfulness and safety culture, and a focus group for qualitative insights.
• Statistical analysis used Kruskal-Wallis tests for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative transcripts.

Main Results:

• Significant improvement in staff attention, measured by the decentering domain, was observed over time (P < 0.001).
• Qualitative themes highlighted the program's feasibility and positive impact, acting as a "calming circuit breaker" that fostered group connection and improved ward round experiences.
• Key implementation factors included program timing and facilitator-participant trust.

Conclusions:

• A brief mindfulness-based intervention can enhance staff attention during multidisciplinary team meetings.
• The intervention positively impacts team functioning and the overall ward round experience.
• Mindfulness practices offer a feasible approach to improving healthcare team dynamics and performance.