RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Online Mindful Self-Compassion Training for Medical Students: an Exploratory Feasibility Study

This study looks at an online course called "Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities" for medical students. It's exploring if this course can help them with common issues like stress, burnout, and feeling tired of helping others. Researchers want to understand if it's practical to run such a course, how students experience it, and if it could make a positive difference to their well-being. Participants will complete the 6-week online course and fill out questionnaires about their feelings before and after, and again three months later. Some will also have an interview to share their thoughts and suggestions for improving the course. This helps make sure future support for healthcare workers is effective and easy to access.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Robert Simpson

Enrolment target

Start

01 Feb 2025

Estimated completion

01 Aug 2025

Self-Compassion

What is this study about?

Imagine you're a medical student facing lots of pressure and stress. This study is all about helping future doctors learn to be kinder and more understanding towards themselves, especially when things get tough. It's called "self-compassion," and it's a way of treating yourself with the same warmth and care you would offer a good friend.

The researchers want to see if an online course designed for healthcare workers can teach these skills effectively. They're particularly interested in whether this course can help medical students deal with things like 'burnout' (feeling completely exhausted), 'compassion fatigue' (feeling drained from endlessly caring for others), and general stress. They also want to see if it helps them feel more satisfied with their compassion for others, improves their self-compassion, and even boosts their empathy and ability to manage their emotions.

This isn't just about the students, though. If we can find good ways to support future doctors, it can ultimately lead to better care for patients. By understanding how well this online course works and what students think of it, we can learn how to create even better support programmes for people working in healthcare.

Key takeaways

This study is for University of Toronto medical students.
It tests an online self-compassion course.
Aims to reduce stress and burnout, and increase well-being.
Involves a 6-week online course and questionnaires.
Some students will also have an interview.
Participation is voluntary and completely online.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a first or second-year medical student at the University of Toronto. You must be at least 18 years old and be able to speak, read, and write in English comfortably.

It's important that you are willing to commit to taking part in the full 6-week online course and filling out all the questionnaires. This commitment helps the researchers get the most accurate results.

You cannot join if you've already completed a similar self-compassion or mindfulness course (like MBSR or MBCT) in the past year. This is to make sure the study only includes people who are new to this kind of training, so the researchers can see the clear effects of *this specific* course.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a first or second-year medical student at the University of Toronto?
Are you 18 years old or older?
Can you comfortably speak, read, and write in English?
Are you able to commit to a 6-week online course and fill out questionnaires?
Have you NOT done a similar mindfulness or self-compassion course in the last 12 months?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll be asked to complete a 6-week online course called "Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities." You'll be asked to fill out some questionnaires online at three different times: once before you start the course, again after you've finished the 6 weeks, and then a final time about three months later. These questionnaires will ask about your feelings and experiences related to stress, self-compassion, and other areas of well-being. Some participants will also be invited to have a chat (an interview) with a researcher to share their thoughts and experiences about the course, what they found helpful, and any suggestions they might have. The total time you'll be involved with the study, including the follow-up, will be around 3-4 months.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part could help you learn new ways to cope with stress and manage your emotions, potentially improving your well-being. However, like any new course, there's always a chance it might not be for everyone, or you might find some parts challenging. Your participation is completely voluntary; you can choose to leave the study at any time without giving a reason, and it won't affect your medical training or care in any way.

Locations (1)

University of Toronto
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What is self-compassion?

Self-compassion means treating yourself with kindness, understanding, and acceptance, especially when you're feeling down or struggling, just like you would a good friend.

Do I need to go anywhere for this study?

No, this study is entirely online. You can take part from your own home or any quiet place with internet access.

How much time will this course take each week?

The study description doesn't specify the exact weekly time commitment, but as it's a 6-week course, it will involve regular engagement.

Will anyone know I'm taking part?

The study aims to keep your information private. The researchers are interested in group results, not individual students.

What happens to the information I give?

The information you provide in questionnaires and interviews will be used by the researchers to understand the effects of the course and help improve future support for medical students.

How to find out more

Robert Simpson, PhD

robert.simpson@uhn.ca 416-360-4000 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.