The Impact of Mindfulness Interventions on the Well-Being of Intensive Care, Emergency Department and Anaesthesia Staff: A Systematic Review.
Nursing in critical care May 1, 2026 Amanda Zahumensky, Varinporn Amporndanai, Jane Orbell-Smith et al.
Critical care staff experience high rates of burnout and emotional fatigue due to intense work environments. A systematic review of thirty studies found that meditation-based interventions, especially those combining in-person and app-guided formats, most consistently improved well-being and reduced stress and burnout among doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals in ICUs, EDs, CCUs, and perioperative units. Yoga and aromatherapy also showed benefits, but their use was often limited by space and schedule constraints. Qualitative findings indicated improved emotional regulation and workplace satisfaction, though barriers like work guilt and time constraints remained. The review suggests flexible, scalable mindfulness-based interventions may help mitigate burnout and support workforce sustainability.