Developing Self-Compassion in Healthcare Professionals Utilising a Brief Online Intervention: A Randomised Waitlist Control Trial

Amanda Super (), Joanna Yarker, Rachel Lewis, Samuel Keightley, Denvar Summers and Fehmidah Munir
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Amanda Super: Amanda Super Consulting Ltd., Manchester M25 9PH, UK
Joanna Yarker: Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7JL, UK
Rachel Lewis: Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7JL, UK
Samuel Keightley: King’s College London, Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9RT, UK
Denvar Summers: School of Health & Psychological Sciences, City St. George’s, University of London, Northampton Square, London EC1V 0HB, UK
Fehmidah Munir: Work and Health Research Centre, School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Spinal Way, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 10, 1-19

Abstract: (1) Background: The level of stress experienced by staff in the healthcare sector is highly prevalent and well documented. Self-compassion may support the health and wellbeing of individuals and enable them to stay well at work. This study aimed to understand whether a brief, online, self-guided, novel intervention improved the health and wellbeing of healthcare professionals. (2) Methods: In a parallel randomised controlled trial, a volunteer sample of healthcare professionals were assigned to an intervention group ( n = 110) or a waitlist control group ( n = 80). Measures of self-compassion, mental wellbeing, stress and burnout were collected by an online questionnaire at baseline, post-programme and, for the intervention group, at follow-up. (3) Results: This intervention appeared to be effective in increasing self-compassion and mental health and decreasing stress and burnout. Significant group effects and significant time × group interactions for overall self-compassion [F (2, 183) = 32.72, p < 0.001; effect size η p 2 = 0.226], mental wellbeing [F (2, 212) = 17.46, p < 0.001; effect size η p 2 = 0.135], perceived stress [F (2, 205) = 5.42, p = 0.006; effect size η p 2 = 0.46], personal burnout [F (2, 224) = 7.57, p = 0.001; effect size η p 2 = 0.063] and work burnout [F (2, 208) = 7.39, p = 0.001; effect size η p 2 = 0.062] were found. (4) Conclusions: This study shows promise that an affordable and scalable intervention can be effective for busy healthcare professionals operating in a significantly challenging environment.

Keywords: self-compassion; online intervention; healthcare professionals; workplace; stress management; randomised waitlist control trial (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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