Effect of Cognition-Targeted Exercise Therapy versus Guided Meditation on Burnout, Cognitive Function, Sleep Quality, and Oxidative Stress- Biomarker in Healthcare Professionals with Burnout Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Burnout syndrome is a prevalent occupational health problem among healthcare professionals, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Prolonged exposure to occupational stress not only affects psychological well-being but also leads to impaired cognitive function, poor sleep quality, and increased physiological stress responses, including oxidative stress. These consequences negatively impact professional performance, patient care, and overall quality of life. The present study proposes a randomized clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of Cognition-Targeted Exercise Therapy (CTET) and Guided Meditation (GM) in healthcare professionals diagnosed with burnout syndrome. CTET integrates physical exercise with cognitive engagement to address maladaptive thoughts, enhance attention, executive function, and stress resilience. Guided Meditation, a mind–body intervention, emphasizes breathing awareness, mindfulness, and emotional regulation to activate parasympathetic responses, improve sleep, and reduce stress-related biochemical alterations. A total of 40 healthcare professionals aged 25–45 years with burnout syndrome will be randomly allocated into two groups. Group A will receive Cognition-Targeted Exercise Therapy, and Group B will receive Guided Meditation. Both interventions will be administered for three weeks, with sessions conducted three times per week for 30 minutes. Outcome measures will be assessed before and after the intervention using validated tools: Maslach Burnout Inventory for burnout, Montreal Cognitive Assessment for cognitive function, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for sleep quality, and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as a biomarker of oxidative stress.

The study aims to determine and compare the effects of these two non-pharmacological interventions on both subjective and objective outcomes related to burnout. By incorporating psychological, cognitive, and biochemical parameters, this research seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of intervention efficacy. The findings are expected to contribute evidence-based guidance for integrative physiotherapy and mind–body approaches in managing burnout among healthcare professionals.