Date Presented 04/22/21
Health care professionals are vulnerable to stress overload and risks that threaten health and well-being. This study investigated the impact of mindful self-compassion (MSC) training on people working in health care. Overall, self-compassion and subscale scores showed significant improvement. Participants indicated that self-compassion and positive mind states were integrated into their lives. OTs could assimilate MSC as an adjunct approach for their clients and their selves.
Primary Author and Speaker: Susan M. Knier
PURPOSE: Zeman and Harvison (2017) call for mindful self-care protocols as a work-wellness platform. The healthcare professional role involves elevate expectations to deliver service in a fast-paced and performance-driven context. Chronic exposure to stress, and barriers to the therapeutic relationship between healthcare professional and patient are common among healthcare professionals and can lead to a diminished ability to carry out occupational roles. potentially resulting in harm to others or oneself (Zeman & Harvison, 2017). As a trainable self-care skill, self-compassion may support coping with difficulty and the fulfillment of occupational needs, as well as prevent or reverse harm (Neff & Germer, 2013; Ziviani, 2015). Self-compassion has been associated with health and well-being in adults (Neff & Germer, 2013). However, an evidence gap exists as to the effect of MSC on improving self-compassion in healthcare professionals (Delaney, 2018). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training, an empirically supported, psychoeducational course facilitated by an occupational therapist and certified MSC teacher. Research questions included (1) ‘Does Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC ) training increase self-compassion in healthcare professionals?’ and (2) ‘Do training participants integrate any aspects of MSC into their daily lives?’
DESIGN: A single group, pre- and post-intervention, prescriptive research design was used. A convenience sample of healthcare professionals, aged 18 years and older, from a community non-profit healthcare system was recruited via email sent to those who registered for a MSC training course.
METHOD: The Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) measure was administered to participants two weeks pre-intervention and three weeks post-intervention. The intervention consisted of eight sessions lasting 2.5 hours, content included building one’s inner resources for self-compassion as a response to emotional suffering (Neff & Germer, 2013). An open-ended question was included on the post-intervention survey to add context and understanding to the quantitative findings. Self-report demographic data on gender, age, occupation, and previous training was anonymously gathered. A dependent groups, paired t-test was performed to compare means on subscale and total SCS pre- and post-intervention scores (N = 29; M age = 52.48 years, age range: 21-68 years, 93% female, 66% clinical and 34% operational staff).
RESULTS: SCS overall self-compassion, and subscale scores (self-kindness, common humanity, mindfulness, self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification) significantly improved (p < .05) following MSC training. Content analysis of the open ended question supported the quantitative findings. Participants’ reported assimilation of self-compassion in their lives and enhanced positive mind states.
CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the MSC training can have a significant effect on increasing self-compassion healthcare professionals. This study has limitations due to small sample and lack of a control group, thus more research is warranted. MSC training offers occupational therapists a novel and timely intervention to support healthcare professionals to more effectively manage their work roles, optimize occupational engagement and outcomes, and improve health and well-being. As negative consequences, such as stress and burnout, in healthcare professionals come to light, it is important to seek and study ways to mitigate those consequences.
References
Neff, K. D., & Germer, C. K. (2013). A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the Mindful Self-Compassion program. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(1), 28-44. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21923
Delaney, M.C. (2018). Caring for the caregivers: Evaluation of the effect of an eight-week pilot Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training program on nurses’ compassion fatigue and resilience. Public Library of Science One, 13(11), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207261
Zeman, E.A., & Harvison, N. (2017). Burnout, stress, and compassion fatigue in occupational therapy practice and education: A call for mindful, self-care protocols [Commentary]. National Academy of Medicine Perspectives, National Academy of Medicine, Washington, DC. Retrieved from https://nam.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Burnout-Stress-and-Compassion-Fatigue-in-Occupational-Therapy-Practice-and-Education-A-Call-for-Mindful-Self-Care-Protocols.pdf. https://doi.org/10.31478/201703g
Ziviani, J. (2015). Occupational performance: A case for self-determination. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 62(6), 393-400. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12250
