Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music Interventions for Well-Being and Burnout Prevention for Neurology, Psychiatry, and Other Health Professionals: Preliminary Findings (S11.003)

Objective:

To evaluate feasibility and effectiveness of Clinically Designed Improvisatory Music (CDIM) to reduce work-related stress for Neurology, Psychiatry, and other health professionals.

Background:

Chronic stress characterizes healthcare providers' lives. Music interventions show reductions in stress in the work setting. Our previous research showed that CDIM reduced cardiovascular burden and feelings of stress and anxiety in neurology patients. In this study, we investigated whether CDIM could also be used for Neurology and Psychiatry health care providers to decrease levels of stress.

Design/Methods:

CDIM is a form of clinical music designed along neuropsychiatric principles of felt safety. I was played by a certified music practitioner for 30 minutes. We used CDIM in three settings: 1. Neurology Department, 2. Psychiatric social workers, 3. Physician Recuperation Room located at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. All participants rated their experience on a scale of 1–10 reporting changes in emotions and states pertinent to burnout (likelihood to recommend [LTR], positive emotion, degree of tension, ability to experience pleasure, and energy levels).

Results:

Four hundred twenty nine (429) healthcare providers took part in CDIM interventions. Participants recommended CDIM at a rate of 93% (+ 9%). They reported positive effects on emotion at 80% (+ 19%), decreased tension at 82% (+ 15%). Eighty percent (80%) found the intervention pleasurable and reported increased levels of energy following CDIM. Changes in energy levels went up from 60% (+ 16%) to to 80% (+ 16%). This latter change was significant at p= 0.0001.

Conclusions:

The CDIM interventions resulted in improvements in tension, energy, and of pleasure, which suggest an increase in capacity. These preliminary results indicate feasibility and effectiveness of CDIM as a viable intervention for supporting wellness and fighting burnout. We plan to provide and disseminate CDIM more widely to include more healthcare providers and staff, and to include physiologic measures by using wearable devices. Disclosure: Ms. Takarabe has nothing to disclose. Rajan Shah has nothing to disclose. Mrs. Walesa has nothing to disclose. Miss Ngo has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wall has nothing to disclose. Mr. Pause has nothing to disclose. Gaurava Agarwal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bonakdarpour has nothing to disclose.