Effectiveness of a Self-Awareness–based Mindfulness Meditation Program in Reducing Burnout and Improving Job Performance among Hospital Nurses in Indonesia

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week self-awareness–based mindfulness meditation program in reducing burnout and improving job performance among hospital nurses in Indonesia.

Methods: This quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group study included 60 hospital nurses at Mitra Medika General Hospital, Medan, Indonesia. Participants were allocated to an intervention group receiving an 8-week self-awareness–based mindfulness meditation program (n=30) or a control group receiving usual workplace support and routine occupational health activities (n=30). Burnout and job performance were assessed at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Within- and between-group changes were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, with significance set at p<0.05.

Results: Baseline burnout and job-performance scores were comparable between groups. Burnout decreased from 68.4 ± 8.7 to 49.6 ± 7.9 in the intervention group (−18.8 points; 27.5%), compared with 67.9 ± 8.5 to 64.8 ± 8.3 in the control group (−3.1 points; 4.6%). The between-group difference in mean change was −15.7 points (p<0.001). Job performance increased from 67.8 ± 6.5 to 78.9 ± 5.8 in the intervention group (+11.1 points; 16.4%), compared with 68.2 ± 6.3 to 70.1 ± 6.1 in the control group (+1.9 points; 2.8%). The between-group difference in mean change was 9.2 points (p<0.001). Significant improvements were observed only in the intervention group (p<0.001).

Conclusion: An 8-week self-awareness–based mindfulness meditation program was associated with substantial reductions in burnout and improvements in job performance among hospital nurses. Integrating structured mindfulness practices into workplace nursing programs may provide a feasible complementary strategy to support nurses’ psychological well-being and occupational functioning.