Addressing burnout among occupational therapy practitioners within the pediatric outpatient setting: a mindfulness intervention
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
Burnout among occupational therapy (OT) practitioners has become a significant concern, particularly in pediatric outpatient settings where high productivity demands, limited documentation time, and staff shortages contribute to chronic stress and emotional exhaustion. This doctoral project aims to address OT practitioner burnout through the implementation and evaluation of an 8-week mindfulness-based yoga intervention. Grounded in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, the program seeks to reduce emotional exhaustion, enhance professional engagement, and promote practitioner well-being.Participants will engage in weekly 60-minute virtual yoga sessions that include mindfulness education, breathwork, and guided physical practice, supported by weekly reflection prompts. Pre- and post-intervention data will be collected using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and open-ended self-assessment questions. The program will be evaluated using a pre-post design without a control group. Results are expected to demonstrate reduced burnout symptoms and improved quality of life among participants. Recruitment strategies include the use of social media and monetary incentives, both of which have been shown to increase participation rates in health research.
This project highlights the potential of non-pharmacological, lifestyle-based interventions to support occupational therapy practitioners in high-demand settings. The findings will inform future large-scale studies and contribute to organizational wellness programming. Addressing practitioner burnout not only improves clinician well-being but also enhances patient care outcomes and healthcare system sustainability.
Description
2025
License
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International