Introduction: Whilst intensive care staff are required to function effectively and efficiently to achieve optimal patient outcomes, they themselves are at risk of stress and burnout due to the nature of the work. Stress has been detrimentally linked to mental health, physiological conditions, satisfaction, tenure, and patient care. Self-reflection and self-care strategies can buffer stress; however, a key challenge is identifying feasible pathways to deliver such programs in the intensive care environment. Accordingly, we developed, delivered and evaluated a MBP program.

Objectives: This study examined feasibility, impact, and staff perceptions towards MBP and explored the difference in various domains of Work Environment Scale (WES) and Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) pre-post the MBP delivery.

Methods: MBP involved 20-minute guided practice every Wednesday facilitated by a trained facilitator. The facilitators used mindful breathing, body scan meditation and simple yoga stretches. A pre and a post-MBP survey conducted. The voluntary survey included demographics, attitude, knowledge of mindfulness practices, WES and WEMWBS.

Results: Four-hundred twenty-three participants responded to the survey at either pre (n=208) or post (n=215) implementation stage. Eighty percent (n=340) of the participants were females; 73% participants were under 45 years old and 67% belonged to nursing stream. Median work experience of survey participants was 9 years (IQR 11 y). The proportion of participants practising mindfulness increased after MBP (p=0.02). There was no difference in self-realisation, nervousness, conflict, workload and overall WEMWBS pre-post MBP.

Conclusion: Mindfulness group practice was feasible in a busy tertiary PICU. While proportion of participants practicing mindfulness increased, this was not mirrored in the assessment scores. A longer duration of exposure is required to assess sustainability and longer-term impact.