Evaluating the effect of meditation on burnout and satisfaction with life
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN59921622 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN59921622 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | ICAI Research Project Scheme 2021 |
- Submission date
- 30/05/2021
- Registration date
- 08/06/2021
- Last edited
- 20/07/2023
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, feelings of cynicism and reduced personal accomplishment. While burnout can be found in any profession, high rates of burnout are found among accounting professionals with women reporting higher levels of reduced personal accomplishment and men reporting higher levels of depersonalization.
This study seeks to investigate if the Heartfulness meditation program is associated with improvements in burnout within employer settings. The intervention chosen for this study is an 8-week online meditation program, with guidance from a Heartfulness meditation trainer coupled with structured education modules.
The specific aims of the study are to assess changes in symptoms of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment, and to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a meditation-based intervention for burnout.
Who can participate
All adults above 18 years of age who are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India
What does the study involve:
The participants self select either to participate in meditation (meditation group) or to carry on as usual (control group).
For the meditation group, it will involve the following:
1. Weekly live online session
The live online meditation session is organized on a weekly basis for 8 weeks. The sessions are composed of 4 minutes of micro-meditation practice, a 15-minute presentation on the science of meditation, 24 minutes of guided meditation practice, 2 minutes of journaling, and 15 minutes for questions and answers to help participants better understand the practice of meditation.
In total, participants will have 30 minutes of meditation practice (including 2 minutes of journaling).
2. Weekly online course
The participants are requested to follow an 8-week self-paced online Science of Meditation (SOM) course. This is based on Heartfulness practices. One module will be accessible each week. Participants will follow the SOM pre-recorded content to review, integrate and go deeper into the understanding of the SOM content and practice Heartfulness micro and core practices.
The composition of each module is about:
1. 15 minutes content
2. 24 minutes of one Heartfulness core practice, and 2 to 6 minutes of micro-practice and journaling. Total: 30 minutes
3. 15 minutes of homework
3. Personal practice every day
The personal practice every day will also be facilitated online at two different time slots each day by Certified Heartfulness Trainers. Considering that the participants will be spread over the globe, the timings for these daily sessions will be decided after discussions with the participants during the first week of the program. Participants are requested to practice daily the Heartfulness core practices (meditation, rejuvenation and inner connection) in the following schedule for 8 weeks:
a. 15 minutes Heartfulness meditation in the morning
b. 15 minutes Heartfulness cleaning in the evening
c. 5 minutes Heartfulness inner connection before sleeping
They also fill out questionnaires before the study and at the end of the study.
The control group carry on as usual and fill out questionnaires before the study and at the end of the study.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants in the meditation group may experience a reduction in burnout and improved satisfaction with life. There are no known risks or discomforts associated with this study. In rare cases, some participants in the Heartfulness meditation group may experience unwanted emotions and thoughts arising during meditation or bodily discomfort through sitting for a prolonged duration. A psychiatrist will be available throughout the study duration to offer support in such cases. In case of emergencies, participants are advised to seek medical attention immediately.
Where is the study run from?
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India Research Center (India)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2021 to August 2021
Who is funding the study?
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (India)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Amit Kumar Agrawal
akagrawal@icai.in
Contact information
Public
2780, Meadow Cross Way
York
17402
United States of America
| Phone | +1 (0)7174956027 |
|---|---|
| jthimmapuram@wellspan.org |
Study information
| Study design | Multicentre prospective cohort study |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study setting(s) | Community |
| Study type | Quality of life |
| Participant information sheet | No participant information sheet available |
| Scientific title | Evaluating the effect of scientific meditation on employee burnout: a multinational study |
| Study objectives | Alternate Hypothesis (Ha): Heartfulness meditation practice is associated with a reduction in burnout for those who take part in the meditation program in comparison with the participants who did not meditate. Null Hypothesis: Heartfulness meditation practice does not statistically significantly reduce burnout among accounting professionals at The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 29/05/2021, the research committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (Research Committee ICAI Bhawan, Indraprastha Marg, New Delhi - 110002, India; +91 (0)9350572094; akagrawal@icai.in), ref: ICAI Research Project Scheme 2021 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Burnout and satisfaction with life |
| Intervention | The participants self select either to participate in meditation (intervention group) or to carry on as usual (control group). 1. Weekly live online session The live online meditation session is organized on a weekly basis for 8 weeks. The sessions are composed of 4 minutes of micro-meditation practice, a 15-minute presentation on the science of meditation, 24 minutes guided meditation practice, 2 minutes of journaling and 15 minutes for questions and answers to help participants better understand the practice of meditation. In total, participants will have 30 minutes of meditation practice (including 2 minutes of journaling). 2. Weekly online course The participants are requested to follow an 8-week self-paced online Science of Meditation (SOM) course. One module will be accessible each week. Participants will follow the SOM pre-recorded content to review, integrate and go deeper into the understanding of the SOM content and practice Heartfulness micro and core practices. The composition of each module is about: 1. 15 minutes content 2. 24 minutes of one Heartfulness core practice, and 2 to 6 minutes of micro-practice and journaling. Total: 30 minutes 3. 15 minutes of homework 3. Personal practice everyday The personal practice every day will also be facilitated online at two different time slots each day by Certified Heartfulness Trainers. Considering that the participants will be spread over the globe, the timings for these daily sessions will be decided after discussions with the participants during the first week of the program. Participants are requested to practice daily the Heartfulness core practices (meditation, rejuvenation and inner connection) in the following schedule during 8 weeks. a. 15 minutes Heartfulness meditation in the morning b. 15 minutes Heartfulness cleaning in the evening c. 5 minutes Heartfulness inner connection before sleeping |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | Burnout measured using Maslach Burnout Inventory at baseline and after the 8-week study period |
| Secondary outcome measures | Satisfaction with life measured using Satisfaction With Life Scale at baseline and after the 8-week study period |
| Overall study start date | 01/04/2021 |
| Completion date | 08/08/2021 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Healthy volunteer |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | 1000 |
| Total final enrolment | 472 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Adults above 18 years of age who are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Individuals less than 18 years of age 2. Active suicidal ideation 3. Current or past diagnoses of manic depressive disorders 4. Post-traumatic stress disorder 5. Psychotic disorders 6. Any other psychiatric conditions requiring treatment |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/06/2021 |
| Date of final enrolment | 06/06/2021 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- India
Study participating centre
New Delhi
110002
India
Sponsor information
Other
ICAI Bhawan, Indraprastha Marg
New Delhi
110002
India
| Phone | +91 (0)11 30110468, 39893989 (Ext 468) |
|---|---|
| akagrawal@icai.in | |
| Website | http://www.icai.org/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/04x3tm905 |
Funders
Funder type
Other
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 08/08/2022 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal |
| IPD sharing plan | The data-sharing plans for the current study are unknown at this point and will be made available at a later date |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 31/08/2022 | 20/07/2023 | Yes | No |
Editorial Notes
20/07/2023: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
07/06/2021: Trial's existence confirmed by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India.
