Online Mindful Self-Compassion Training for Medical Students: an Exploratory Feasibility Study
ConditionSelf-Compassion
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorRobert Simpson
About this trial
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.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Enrolled in first or second-year of the MD or MD/PhD program at the University of Toronto,
Over 18 years of age,
Able to speak, read, and write in English,
Willing to take part in the SCHC course for up to the full 6-week duration,
Disqualifiers
None
Trial design
Design model
Single group
Treatments tested in this trial
Self-compassion intervention (Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course)
BehavioralAn online 6-week mindful self-compassion course with weekly sessions.
Treatment groups
45 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment groupGroup A: Self-compassion interventionExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Recruitment
The investigators will measure the number of participants eligible for and recruited to the study.
Time frame
4 months2
Retention
The investigators will measure the percentage of participants who complete outcome data.
Time frame
4 months3
Adherence
The investigators will measure the number of participants who completed the Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course.
Time frame
4 months4
Follow-up rates
The investigators will measure the percentage of participants who complete outcome measures pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention.
Time frame
4 monthsSecondary outcomes
1
Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) Version 5
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.
Time frame
Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention2
Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form
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.
Time frame
Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention3
Relational Compassion Scale
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.
Time frame
Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention4
The Brief Interpersonal Reactivity Index
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.
Time frame
Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-interventionSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Robert Simpson
Lead sponsor
University of Toronto
Sponsor institution
Source ClinicalTrials.gov