Theme 1: Mindfulness encourages behavioural and cognitive change that facilitates well-being
| Subtheme | Participant | Quotation |
|---|---|---|
| Subtheme 1: Leaving work at work | Rheumatology 25-year medical practice | “I end up at the end of the day with a happier day and that means I come home happier. I don’t bring back all of the frustration and stuff that was happening through the day.” |
| Ophthalmology 5-year medical practice | “I tried usually at the beginning of the day and at the end of the day, as I left work, to just take a few moments of quiet as I was walking or driving or taking the subway. I found that really nice just to set an intention for the day and then reset after a long day … and I felt more energized and had more clarity to do stuff that I had to do later on.” | |
| Subtheme 2: Permission to not rush | Ophthalmology 5-year medical practice | “There are many times in the day where the panic button can go off and then when you just take a breath for yourself you just tell yourself that everything is okay and it’s going to be fine, and then you take it from there again. You rework your thoughts and you mentally organize things in that moment and then you can start again. And then I think you are less anxious, or you are less worried, or you don’t panic as much.” |
| Cardiology 14-year medical practice | “The [mindful] walking was good because every day I walk from my office to another office for a meeting, or I walk to the clinic to see the patients … so instead of walking and thinking ‘what do I have to do next’, or ‘my day looks crazy’, I decided to just walk and think about the walking. When I was getting to the meeting or to the patient, I was more relaxed and more present in a way … not feeling this sort of frenetic energy, just feeling, more calm confident stance than wound up.” | |
| Emergency medicine 15-year medical practice | “There will be 3 different hospitals on hold to talk to me, I’ll have 5 learners waiting individually to talk about different patients, the charge nurse, the bridge call comes in, there is literally one of me and 20 different things that all are a right now thing … but I can take a deep breath and just remember that I can only do what I can do and me freaking out and yelling at people being like, ‘can you just leave me alone’ [is] not going to help.” | |
| Subtheme 3: Being kinder toward oneself | Ophthalmology 33-year medical practice | “I think I am more forgiving with myself, with my patients. I don’t feel I have to give everything to every patient the way I had in the past … part of being mindful is recognizing that and instead of allowing that to go nurture the seed of compassion. Allowing [and] expressing that you feel bad that the patient feels that way, but not allowing them to consume you.” |
| Psychiatry 20-year medical practice | “I think the other part was that it is so important for my own mental health and well-being that I prioritize this given that the amount (of) stress, there is always going to be something to do and somewhere to go, but what’s critically important is that I am here and taking care of myself.” |