Positive Health Online

Abstract

OMAN and COLLEAGUES, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, USA. DougOman@post.Harvard.edu evaluated effects on health professional relational caregiving self-efficacy from an eight-week, 16-hour training in self-management tools.

Background

Relational caregiving skills remain seldom studied in health professionals.

Methodology

Physicians, nurses, chaplains, and other health professionals were randomized after pretest to treatment (n = 30) or waiting list (n = 31). Training used a previously researched program of Easwaran (1991/1978) derived from spiritual wisdom traditions. Changes were measured using a 34-item caregiving self-efficacy scale.

Results

Positive effects were observed at posttest, eight- and 19-week follow-up (ds = .38, .47, .37, all ps < .05), and were mediated by adherence to practices and stress reductions (p < .05), findings also obtained in qualitative interviews (n = 24).

Conclusion

Evidence suggests this program enhances health professional caregiving self-efficacy, and may merit inclusion in training curricula.

References

Oman D, Richards TA, Hedberg J and Thoresen CE. Passage meditation improves caregiving self-efficacy among health professionals: a randomized trial and qualitative assessment. Journal of Health Psychology. 13(8): 1119-35. Nov 2008.