Sustainable benefits of mindfulness training in health professions education.
BMC medical education March 27, 2025 Camilla Sköld, Anton Steen, Maria Niemi et al. 6 citations
A mixed-method survey of 201 healthcare students who completed a mindfulness-based stress management course found that most continued to practice mindfulness after graduation, with 85.3% of those who continued reporting that the competence helped in relationships with patients, compared to 57.1% who did not continue. Participants with prior mindfulness experience were more likely to sustain practice (84% vs. 50%). The qualitative analysis identified themes of increased acceptance, relaxation, self-compassion, and better patient interactions, alongside some negative experiences like aversiveness. The authors argue that learning mindfulness as a student can contribute to a sustainable professional life by building skills to handle stress and develop compassionate relationships.