Examining Feasibility, Acceptability, and Exploratory Pre–Post Changes Following Faculty-Delivered Mindfulness-Based Attention Training in Pediatric Critical Care

Background: Pediatric critical care medicine (PCCM) fellows experience substantial psychological stress and cognitive demands, yet evidence-based interventions to support their well-being remain limited. As a preliminary step to address this gap, we evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of faculty-delivered Mindfulness-Based Attention Training (MBAT) within a PCCM fellowship. Methods: In this single-arm pilot study, eight PCCM fellows completed a faculty-delivered 4-week (8 h) MBAT program. Primary outcomes were feasibility and acceptability. Feasibility was assessed across three domains: intervention delivery and attendance, independent mindfulness practice, and completion of planned assessments and biospecimen collection. Acceptability was assessed by participant ratings of motivation, application of MBAT skills to daily life, and willingness to recommend the course to colleagues. Exploratory pre–post outcomes included participant-reported psychological measures, Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) performance, and hair cortisol concentration. Results: All planned MBAT sessions were delivered; seven participants (87.5%) attended all four sessions, six (75.0%) practiced independently 1–2 times per week, and all participants completed planned assessments. For acceptability, 75.0% agreed that they applied MBAT skills to daily life, 62.5% were motivated to participate, and 87.5% would recommend the course to colleagues. Exploratory pre–post analyses showed higher mean positive affect and lower mean burnout, perceived stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, SART reaction time and error counts, and hair cortisol concentration. Conclusions: Faculty-delivered MBAT was feasible to deliver and attend, with complete study assessment and biospecimen collection, and was generally well accepted within a PCCM fellowship. However, independent participant practice was limited, representing a key feasibility and implementation challenge that future investigations may address through asynchronous, self-paced program content.