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Online Mindful Self-Compassion Training for Medical Students: an Exploratory Feasibility Study

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Self-Compassion
Interventions
Behavioral: Self-compassion intervention (Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course)
Registration Number
NCT06538597
Lead Sponsor
Robert Simpson
Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop and investigate a compassion-based intervention (Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities (SCHC) course) in medical students. The main objectives are:

1. Explore the feasibility of trial processes including recruitment, adherence, retention, and follow-up

2. Explore the experiences of medical students with the Compassion-based intervention, including perceived effects, barriers and facilitators to participation, suggestions for improvement

3. Determine potential effects on burnout, compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, self-compassion, compassion for others, empathy, mindfulness, perceived stress, and emotional regulation.

Participants will be asked to take part in a 6-week online Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course and report changes in levels of burnout, compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, self-compassion, compassion for others, empathy, mindfulness, perceived stress, and emotional regulation from pre- to post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up. Additionally, participants will be asked to take part in a semi-structured interview to explore their experiences with the course, perceived effects, and suggestions for improvement.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
45
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Enrolled in first or second-year of the MD or MD/PhD program at the University of Toronto,
  2. Over 18 years of age,
  3. Able to speak, read, and write in English,
  4. Willing to take part in the SCHC course for up to the full 6-week duration,
  5. Willing to complete all study related questionnaires
Exclusion Criteria
  1. Those already having completed a mindful self-compassion course or Mindfulness based-intervention (Mindfulness-based stress reduction or Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy) within the past 12 months.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Self-compassion interventionSelf-compassion intervention (Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course)6-week manualized online Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Recruitment4 months

The investigators will measure the number of participants eligible for and recruited to the study.

Follow-up rates4 months

The investigators will measure the percentage of participants who complete outcome measures pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention.

Adherence4 months

The investigators will measure the number of participants who completed the Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course.

Retention4 months

The investigators will measure the percentage of participants who complete outcome data.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) Version 5Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

Measures the positive and negative effects of one's compassion for those that they help. Includes with subscales for compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue (including burnout). Answers are assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores on the compassion satisfaction sub-scale indicating higher compassion satisfaction, and higher scores on compassion fatigue sub-scale indicating higher burnout.

Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire: Short FormBaseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

Measures one's tendencies to engage in mindfulness practices. Answers are assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores representing more mindfulness.

Perceived Stress Scale-10Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

Measures one's thoughts and feelings pertaining to stress. The total score can range from 0-40, with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.

Self-Compassion Scale - Short FormBaseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

Measures how one typically acts towards themselves in difficult times. The total score ranges from a 1-5, with higher scores representing high self-compassion.

Relational Compassion ScaleBaseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

Measure's ones tendencies for receiving and providing relational compassion. Answers are assessed using a 4-point Likert scale. Higher scores represent higher compassion for self and others.

The Brief Interpersonal Reactivity IndexBaseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

Measures the different ways that people may think about their lives. Answers are assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores representing higher empathic responsiveness.

Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short FormBaseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

Measures emotion regulation. Answers are assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Higher values indicate greater difficulties in emotion regulation.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Toronto

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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