A Pilot RCT Examining the Effectiveness of CMT for Healthcare Staff

Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical need for evidence-based interventions to support the psychological wellbeing of healthcare staff, particularly within Occupational Health settings. Recent research has documented significant mental health challenges among healthcare professionals, including high rates of burnout and stress. Fostering self-compassion has emerged as a key area for intervention. This study aims to pilot and assess the effectiveness of an online compassion-based intervention for healthcare staff, using a randomised Treatment As Usual (TAU) control group. The intervention will be grounded in Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) and Compassionate Mind Training (CMT). CFT aims to shift focus from self-blame and shame to self-compassion, while CMT involves specific techniques to cultivate compassionate attitudes.

The four-week online intervention, led by a CMT expert, will include mindfulness practices such as attention training, imagery, and behaviour-based exercises designed to foster an identity grounded in compassion. The sample will consist of healthcare professionals accessing Occupational Health service in Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) for psychological assessment. Participants who meet inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the TAU control group.

Questionnaires will be administered online at four time points: pre-intervention,mid intervention, post-intervention, and at one-month follow-up. The measures will assess mental health, burnout, self-compassion, fear of self-compassion and credibility and expectancy of treatment. Participants will be recruited through BHSCT Occupational Health Service and will be screened to meet inclusion criteria by the clinician completing psychological assessment. If the client agrees to be contacted by the researcher their name will be added to a study spreadsheet by their clinician and they will be contacted by the researcher to provide further information and obtain informed consent. Data will be collected electronically using Microsoft Forms and stored securely on an encrypted Trust-based database.

Conditions

• Staff Support

Interventions

OTHER

Compassionate Mind Training

The IG will receive an online intervention created, recorded and delivered by a member of the research team, Dr Chris Irons, founder of Balanced Minds and Board Member of the Compassionate Mind Foundation. The content of the intervention is based on the principles of CFT theory (Gilbert, 2009), CMT practices (Irons \& Beaumont, 2017) and research outcomes. The intervention is hosted on the Balanced Minds website by Dr Chris Irons and this will be freely accessible to participants. There is no cost to the research team for using this intervention and Dr Irons will be a named author for his participation. After participants provide consent, complete baseline measures and randomisation takes place, those randomised into the IG will receive an information leaflet detailing how to register on the Balanced Minds website using their provided email address. The intervention will consist of four weekly sessions, containing a 30-minute video, additional audio exercises and reading materials. Part

OTHER

Staffcare Counselling

Participants who are randomly allocated to the TAUG will be referred to an information leaflet providing usual care following assessment in the Occupational Health Service, as an appropriate intervention for their presenting difficulties as per the stepped care model. This involves referral to Staffcare for 6 weekly counselling sessions through the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). This treatment is not affiliated with the Occupational Health Service.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Queen's University, Belfast

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

68 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-10-13

Primary Completion

2026-09-30

Completion

2026-09-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations