Clinical trials

This study will use a waiting list randomized controlled trial design with a mixed-methods research approach, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. Randomization helps minimize research bias and controls for participant and contextual factors that might otherwise make interpretation of results challenging. We will recruit 152 people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) with any type of MS, who also have mild-moderate depression, aged 18 or greater, and able to understand spoken and written English. For the quantitative part, we will examine how much change in depression there is following mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), as well as whether participants attend the course and complete study measures or not, and how much participants complete MBCT home practices. We will also examine how much change there is in fatigue, sleep pain, quality of life, and anxiety. For the qualitative part of the study, we will use semi-structured interviews to explore participant experiences of online MBCT, how people used online MBCT, what worked, what didn't and why, how online MBCT impacted self-management of depression, and suggestions for improving the course to make it more relevant for PwMS with depression.

Clinical staff working with people with multiple sclerosis often face emotional fatigue and high levels of burnout. The Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course is an evidence-based intervention that teaches participants how to meet distress with kindness and care. This study will recruit up to 40 staff from the Barlo MS Clinic at St. Michael's Hospital to take part in a 6-week, 6-session Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course. Participants will be asked to complete surveys before and after the course to understand the effects of the course on a range of outcomes. Participants will be invited to take part in one qualitative interview on their perspectives on the course.

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.

This project aims to implement and investigate a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). The main objective is to implement MBSR intervention for PwMS in a major tertiary care clinic for PwMS. We will iteratively refine the intervention as required based on stakeholder feedback and any other emergent contextual findings. Participants will be asked to take part in an 8-week MBSR course and report changes in anxiety, depression, quality of life, emotional regulation, self-compassion, mindfulness, and health services use.