This exploratory study aims to evaluate the effect of a self-compassion training developed for health professionals on leaders of self-help groups. Hypothesis/primary goal: An online group intervention adapted from the "Self-compassion for health-care communities program" validated for health professionals leads to an increase in self-compassion among leaders of cancer self-help groups. Secondary goals: level of self-compassion at the end of the course as a mediator for therapeutic variables after 6 weeks, decrease in caregiver fatigue, secondary traumatic stress/burnout risk, personal distress and sick leave, decrease in fears of self-compassion/compassion for others; increase in mindfulness, self-efficacy, compassion for others and resilience; direct costs; safety; Intervention: Online group intervention: led by a certified mindfulness teacher for Mindful Self-Compassion and additional qualification in Self-Compassion in Healthcare Communities (duration: 6 weekly appointments of 90 min each); control intervention: waiting group
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
64
Online group intervention: led by a certified mindfulness teacher for mindful self-compassion and additional qualification in self-compassion in healthcare communities (duration: 6 weekly appointments of 90 min each);
Comprehensive Cancer Center Würzburg
Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany
self-compassion as assessed by Self-compassion scale in german version (SCS-D)
Determining self-compassion after the intervention by means of a confirmatory test for group differences in the primary endpoint according to the ITT principle using a linear regression model; instrument: SCS-D
Time frame: 6 weeks after baseline
Decrease in compassion fatigue as assessed by ProQoL
Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) is intended for any helper - health care professionals, social service workers, teachers, attorneys, emergency response, etc. Understanding the positive and negative aspects of helping those who experience trauma and suffering can improve your ability to help them and your ability to keep your own balance.
Time frame: 12 weeks after baseline
secondary traumatic stress/burnout risk as assesd by ProQoL
Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) is intended for any helper - health care professionals, social service workers, teachers, attorneys, emergency response, etc. Understanding the positive and negative aspects of helping those who experience trauma and suffering can improve your ability to help them and your ability to keep your own balance.
Time frame: 12 weeks after baseline
personal distress (PSS-10)
The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) is a 10-item questionnaire originally developed by Cohen et al. (1983) widely used to assess stress levels in young people and adults aged 12 and above. It evaluates the degree to which an individual has perceived life as unpredictable, uncontrollable and overloading over the previous month.
Time frame: 12 weeks after baseline
decrease in fears of self-compassion (FCS)
The FCS-A assesses fear of compassion for self, fear of compassion for others, and fear of compassion from others and. It identifies barriers to giving compassion to oneself (15 items), to others (10 items), and receiving compassion from others (13 items). The items are rated on a five-point Likert scale (0 = Don't agree at all, 4 = Completely agree). The higher the score, the greater the one's fears, blocks and resistances to compassion.
Time frame: 12 weeks after baseline
compassion for others (COS-7)
The questionnaire uses a 7 point Likert scale ranging from 1 (not at all true of me) to 7 (very true of me) to capture levels of compassion. Total scores are derived by averaging all item scores. Higher total scores indicate higher levels of compassion for others (strangers). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01344-5
Time frame: 12 weeks after baseline
increase in mindfulness (FFMQ)
The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ-15) is a 15 question self-report scale that measures mindfulness with regards to thoughts, experiences, and actions in daily life (Baer, Carmody, \& Hunsinger, 2012).
Time frame: 12 weeks after baseline
increase in self-efficacy (SWE)
The scales can be used to measure beliefs about subjective controllability and competence expectations in various demanding situations, namely at school, in higher education, and in everyday life. The method is primarily intended for use in scientific research. Jerusalem, M. \& Schwarzer, R. (1981). "Selbstwirksamkeit". WIRK. In R. Schwarzer (Hrsg.) (1986), Skalen zur Befindlichkeit und Persönlichkeit (Forschungsbericht 5. S. 15-28). Berlin: Freie Universität, Institut für Psychologie.
Time frame: 12 weeks after baseline
increase in resilience (BRS)
The BRS is a reliable means of assessing resilience as the ability to bounce back or recover from stress and may provide unique and important information. The BRS consists of six items. Items 1, 3, and 5 are phrased positively, while items 2, 4, and 6 are phrased negatively. The BRS is evaluated by recoding items 2, 4, and 6 and calculating the mean value of the six items.
Time frame: 12 weeks after baseline
Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0
Time frame: 12 weeks after baseline
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