Evaluating a wellness intervention including micro-practices for healthcare professionals before and during COVID-19

Maria Teresa Reyes-Chacón; Flor Rocio Ramírez-Martínez; Blanca  Márquez-Miramontes; Marie Leiner

doi:10.19136/hs.a22n1.5007

Authors

Maria Teresa Reyes-Chacón Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4117-0607
Flor Rocio Ramírez-Martínez Research Professor at the Institute of Social Sciences and Administration of the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6012-0897
Blanca Márquez-Miramontes Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez, Education, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3466-9194
Marie Leiner Departamento de Pediatría – Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – El Paso https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0831-3872

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19136/hs.a22n1.5007

Abstract

Objective: To describe, with a mixed design study, healthcare professionals' pre-post
descriptive measures of quality of life (subjective wellness) and prolonged fatigue, as well as
an improvement in overall wellness and satisfaction regarding micro-practices as a result of
participation in a wellness intervention before and during COVID-19.
Material and Methods: This study had a mixed design involving two independent groups of
healthcare professionals participating in a wellness intervention with micro-practices before
and during COVID-19. The intervention contained multimodal presentations with animated
cartoon stories, comics, storytelling, readings, breathing, mindfulness and visualization
exercises, adapted from second-order factors in the Indivisible Self model. Pre-post
descriptive measures of quality of life (subjective wellness), prolonged fatigue, as well as
improvement in overall wellness and satisfaction regarding micro-practices were collected.
Results: Attending to either wellness interventions before or during COVID-19 had
a positive and, in some cases significant, effect on important indicators of quality-of-life
and prolonged fatigue among healthcare professionals. A qualitative analysis indicated
a subjective improvement in overall wellness and satisfaction regarding the use of micropractices
included in the wellness interventions, regardless of whether these were presented
in person or virtually. Most participants subjectively indicated that they improved in the
targeted indicators, especially achievement of better wellness.
Conclusions: During ordinary and extraordinary circumstances, healthcare professionals
require specific interventions that act primarily to provide them with strategies that can
improve physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Use of micro-practices in multimodal
workshops to improve healthcare practitioner wellness is a successful tool for learning or
remembering the importance of pausing during daily clinical activities and refocusing their
energy.
Keywords: Holistic health; Health care providers; Health promotion, Working Conditions.

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Author Biographies

Maria Teresa Reyes-Chacón, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social

Doctor in medicine with specialization in family practice with experience in first level clinical care with more than 10 years of experience as administrative coordinator in primary care within the Mexican Institute of Social Security. Graduate with two master's degrees in special education and in administration with a PhD in administrative sciences.

Educator of physicians, administrators, and researchers, presenting conferences on the training of medical personnel, and the challenges facing educational institutions as well as students in health care areas.

Currently working on a project on academic environments and stressors in medical residents.
Flor Rocio Ramírez-Martínez, Research Professor at the Institute of Social Sciences and Administration of the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juárez

She holds a PhD in Administration from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Master in Finance and Public Accountant from ITESM. Research Professor, Author of books, book chapters and several research articles. Specialist in developing strategies to solve social problems among young students as well as in society and entrepreneurship. Currently holds the position of General Director of Extension and Student Services at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez.
Blanca Márquez-Miramontes, Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez, Education, Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico

A native from Chihuahua, Mexico, she studied Public Accounting at the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, a Master's Degree in Administration with a specialization in Finance at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and a Doctorate in Management Sciences at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

He has worked in the Municipal, State and Federal Public Administration in the Municipal Treasury of Aldama City, Chihuahua, the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit in Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, and in the Accounting Office of the Congress of the State of Chihuahua.

In the private sector she has worked as coordinator of Human Resources in Maquiladora Industry and as Developer of investment projects in Artificial Intelligence Personal Communications.

Professor of Undergraduate, Graduate and Continuing Education at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, and at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, where she has also served as Coordinator of the Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and Coordinator of the Bachelor's Degree in Finance.

She currently teaches in the Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, the Bachelor's Degree in Finance and the Doctorate in Administrative Sciences, is Chair of the Department of Administrative Sciences, Coordinator of Graduate Studies of the National Association of Faculties and Schools of Accounting and Administration zone I (Northwest Region of Mexico), Member of the Committee of the Vice-Presidency of Academic Activities of the Mexican Institute of Public Accountants of Ciudad Juarez and Leader of the Academic Body of Analysis of Organizations, Competitiveness and Human Resources Development
Marie Leiner, Departamento de Pediatría – Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – El Paso

Dr. Marie Leiner is a research professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) El Paso. Dr. Leiner earned a PhD in international business administration with a specialization in health communication from Nova Southeastern University and a diploma in epidemiology from the University of London. She is also a professor in the Universidad Autonoma de Ciudad Juarez, Mexico (UACJ). She has written several books and published several articles on the impact of violence and poverty on children. Dr. Leiner's work as a health communicator includes the production of educational materials that aim to address the problems arising from disparities among parents/caregivers of pediatric patients. Her work includes pictorial versions of various self-assessment tools (Pediatric Symptom List, Child Behavior List, Perceived Stress, etc.). Dr. Leiner has successfully applied innovative techniques to produce and test health education material using illustrations in multimodal formats to change patient/parent perceptions and attitudes towards health prevention, and social/emotional and behavioral issues applied in the clinical setting. She is also dedicated to offer and evaluate the impact of wellness programs for healthcare professionals based on the development of cognitive and emotional skills presented through micro-practices.