Abstract:
Background: Burnout is a highly prevalent occupational syndrome among healthcare workers, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, and is associated with impaired patient safety and well-being. Chronic occupational stress leads to autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation, as evidenced by reduced heart rate variability (HRV). Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVBF) is a non-invasive, evidence-based intervention that enhances parasympathetic activity and autonomic resilience.
Methods: This prospective, randomized controlled trial enrolled forty burnout-positive healthcare providers from multi-specialty hospitals in Bengaluru, India. Participants were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n = 20) receiving a four-week HRVBF coherence training program or a control group (n = 20) with no intervention. Primary outcomes were Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) subscale scores; secondary outcomes were HRV indices measured by Emwave Pro. Analyses were performed using Jamovi (v2.4); significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results: The intervention group showed significant improvements in all HRV indices (SDNN: 39.75 ± 2.04 vs. 37.90 ± 1.48 ms, p = 0.005; RMSSD: 25.10 ± 2.06 vs. 22.60 ± 1.43 ms, p < 0.001; Total Power: 1242.8 ± 63.1 vs. 1126.2 ± 16.3 ms², p < 0.001) and significant reductions in burnout (EE: 29.80 ± 1.54 vs. 32.60 ± 1.23, p < 0.001; DP: 12.45 ± 1.10 vs. 14.05 ± 1.05, p < 0.001; PA: 28.80 ± 1.11 vs. 26.90 ± 0.97, p < 0.001) compared to controls. No changes were observed in the control group (all p = 1.000).
Conclusion: A four-week HRVBF coherence training program significantly reduced burnout and improved autonomic function in healthcare providers. HRVBF is a feasible, scalable, and effective occupational wellness intervention suitable for integration into institutional health programs.
Biography:
Dr. Deepak Sharan is a Consultant in Orthopedic Surgery, Rehabilitation, Ergonomics, Occupational Health, Functional and Lifestyle Medicine, and the Founder and CEO of RECOUP Health, Bengaluru, India. He is the Chairperson of the Scientific Committee on Musculoskeletal Disorders of the International Commission on Occupational Health and the President of the International Myopain Society. He has over 600 International scientific publications and conference presentations. He is the winner of the National Disability Award and the world’s highest Research Awards in Orthopedics and Pediatric Orthopedics. He has successfully treated over 1 million patients from 45 countries. He is the Ergonomics and Occupational Health Consultant to several Fortune 500 companies.
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