Evaluation of the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Change of Compassion Cultivation Training in Medical Students

Overview

The aim of this randomized, waitlist controlled trial is to examine the efficacy of the Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT©) in reducing psychological distress (i.e., stress, anxiety and depression) and burnout symptoms while improving psychological well-being medical students. The second goal of the study is to examine whether mindfulness and compassion-related variables as well as emotional-cognitive emotional regulation processes mediate the psychological distress and well-being changes. The effects of the CCT© program will be measured by means of self-report questionnaires involving different domains (mindfulness, compassion, distress, and well-being measures) at different time points (pre-intervention, inter-session assessment, post-intervention, 2-month and 6-month follow-up).

Compassion and empathy are essential components of health care quality. Several studies have found a significant decrease in empathy and compassion levels during medical school and residency (Hojat, 2004; Bellini, 2005; Stephen, 2006; Neumann, 2011). However, compassion training is usually excluded from medical education. Compassion training in medical students can increase their wellness and decreased burnout (Weingartner, 2019), which in turn improves patients clinical outcomes (Kim, 2004; Rakel, 2009; Hojat, 2011; Attar 2012; Del Canale, 2012; Steinhausen, 2014; Trzeciak, 2017; Moss, 2019). Given that compassion can be trained through standardized interventions (Stephen, 2006; Hojat, 2009a; Goetz, 2010; Kelm, 2014) and educational programs (Patel, 2019), it highlight the need to investigate interventions aimed to improving both, provider self-care and patient care. Hypothesis: * Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT©) program would improve psychological well-being while reducing psychological distress (stress, anxiety and depression) and burnout symptoms in medical students as compared to a waitlist control group. * These improvements would be maintained at 2 and 6 months after finishing the program. * Mindfulness and compassion changes and emotional-cognitive emotional regulation processes would mediate the relationship between the program and the psychological distress and well-being changes. * Compassion skills after the program will be a protective factor for stress and worry produced by COVID-19 pandemic. Procedure: The study will follow a randomised waitlist controlled trial with five assessment moments (i.e., pre, inter-session, post, 2-month and 6-month follow-ups). Participants will be recruited via constitutional email and the informative screens of the Medical School at Complutense University of Madrid. Participants will be randomized to either CCT© group (N=20) or waiting list control group (N=20). The procedure will include an online assessment via Qualtrics software at the different time points, as well as the completion of a "practice diary" as the inter-session assessment one per week the day before each session. Program description: The Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT©) is an 8-week evidence-based standardized meditation program designed at Standford University. The CCT© is aimed at cultivating compassion and empathy toward oneself and others. The program is conducted in groups of 15-20 participants and consisting of weekly 2 hour on-line sessions (due to COVID-19 restrictions) with 20-30 minutes of daily formal meditation practices and informal compassion practices. The CCT© program will be guided by a certified instructor from the Compassion Institute. Program adherence and fidelity will be monitored through revisions of the recorded sessions. The CCT© program comprises six sequential steps: 1) Settling the mind; 2) Loving-kindness and compassion for a loved one; 3) Self-directed loving-kindness and compassion; 4) Common humanity; 5) Cultivating compassion for others; and 6) Active compassion (Tonglen).