Evaluating the Meditation Practices and Barriers to Adopting Mindful Medicine Among Physicians.
American journal of lifestyle medicine – March 12, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Over 37% of U.S. physicians meditate weekly, primarily for stress relief, which significantly influences their likelihood to recommend mindfulness meditation (MM) to patients. Among regular meditators, 90.6% advocate for MM, compared to only 46.8% of non-meditators. However, barriers like time constraints (50.9%) and prioritizing other tasks (51.5%) hinder broader implementation in clinical practice. Many physicians also report low perceived benefits and inadequate knowledge about MM, highlighting the need for enhanced education and training to improve its adoption in managing chronic pain and burnout.
Abstract
Background: Chronic pain affects over 25% of U.S. adults and is a leading cause of disability. Mindfulness meditation (MM) is a nonpharmacologic approach to manage pain and improve well-being. Despite mounting evidence supporting its efficacy, MM remains underutilized in medical practice. Understanding physicians' engagement with MM and the barriers they face can inform strategies for integration into clinical care. This study assessed physicians' attitudes toward MM, including barriers to practice and their likelihood of recommending it to patients. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of U.S. physicians was conducted from April to July 2024. Participants provided information on demographics, health struggles, and meditation practices and completed the Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory-Revised to evaluate barriers. Results: Of 171 respondents, 37.4% meditated weekly, primarily for stress relief. Regular meditators were significantly more likely to recommend MM to patients (90.6%) compared to past (75%) or non-meditators (46.8%; P < .0001). Common barriers included time constraints (50.9%) and prioritizing other tasks (51.5%). Non- and past meditators reported low perceived benefits and inadequate knowledge (P ≤ .0001). Conclusion: Physicians' engagement with MM influences their likelihood of recommending it. Addressing barriers through education, training, and promoting brief practices could enhance MM adoption and integration into clinical care.