RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

A Pilot RCT Examining the Effectiveness of CMT for Healthcare Staff

This study looks at a new online course called Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) for healthcare staff in Northern Ireland. Many healthcare workers have faced a lot of stress, and this course teaches them to be kinder to themselves. Researchers want to see if CMT can help reduce stress and burnout, and improve their mental wellbeing. They will compare it to the usual Staffcare counselling provided. Participants will be randomly put into one of two groups: one taking the online CMT course, and the other receiving standard counselling. The study will track their progress over four weeks and then check in with them one month later.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Queen's University, Belfast

Enrolment target

Start

13 Oct 2025

Estimated completion

01 Sep 2026

Staff Support

What is this study about?

You're probably aware that working in healthcare can be very demanding, and many staff have experienced a lot of stress and burnout, especially during busy times like the pandemic. This study is exploring a new way to support healthcare workers in Northern Ireland called Compassionate Mind Training (CMT).

The main idea behind CMT is to help people learn to be kinder and more understanding towards themselves, rather than being overly critical. This study wants to find out if taking an online course based on these ideas can make a positive difference to how healthcare staff feel. They will compare it to the standard support already available, which is counselling provided by Staffcare.

The researchers hope that by learning these compassionate mind techniques, staff will be better equipped to handle stress, reduce burnout, and generally improve their mental wellbeing. If successful, this could offer another valuable way to support the mental health of our dedicated healthcare professionals.

Key takeaways

This study explores a new online course for healthcare staff.
It aims to help with stress and burnout by teaching self-compassion.
You might receive the online course or standard counselling.
Participation involves online surveys over a couple of months.
The goal is to find better ways to support staff mental health.

Who may be eligible?

To be able to take part in this study, you need to be a healthcare worker in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) who is seeing the Occupational Health Service for a psychological assessment. You must be over 18 years old and have a good understanding of English. You also need to have internet access on a device like a computer or tablet so you can access the online course and fill out questionnaires. Even if you are currently off work due to illness, you might still be able to join.

However, there are some reasons why you wouldn't be able to take part. This includes if you are already having another type of talking therapy or counselling. Also, if you are struggling with a serious mental health condition, or if addiction is a main concern, this study might not be suitable for you. If a quick check of your mental wellbeing shows very high levels of distress, the study may also not be the best fit, as this training is designed for less severe issues.

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 healthcare worker in BHSCT seeing Occupational Health for a psychological assessment?
Are you 18 years old or over?
Can you understand English well enough to follow the course and surveys?
Do you have a reliable internet connection and device?
Are you NOT currently having other psychological therapy?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in this study, you'll first be asked some questions during your psychological assessment with Occupational Health. If you meet the criteria and agree, your name will be passed to a researcher who will contact you to explain more and get your permission.

You'll then be randomly placed into one of two groups. One group will take part in an online Compassionate Mind Training (CMT) course. This involves four weekly sessions, each with a 30-minute video, audio exercises, and reading materials, led by an expert. You would complete one session each week. The other group will receive the standard counselling offered by Staffcare, which typically involves six weekly sessions.

Both groups will be asked to fill out online surveys at four different times: before the training/counselling starts, in the middle of it, right after it finishes, and then again about a month later. These surveys will ask about your mental health, stress levels, and how kind you are to yourself. The total duration of active participation (training/counselling and initial follow-up) will be about two months.

Potential risks and benefits

Potential benefits of taking part include learning new ways to cope with stress and being kinder to yourself, which could help improve your overall mental wellbeing. You'll also be contributing to important research that could help future healthcare staff. As with any mental health support, some people might find certain exercises or topics bring up uncomfortable feelings, but the online course is guided, and your usual counselling support would be available. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your care or employment.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Queens University Belfast
Verified postcode
Belfast, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is Compassionate Mind Training?

It's an online course that teaches you to be more understanding and kind to yourself, which can help with stress and burnout.

Will I have to pay to take part?

No, there are no costs for participating in this study or accessing the training/counselling.

What if I'm already seeing a therapist?

You wouldn't be eligible for this study if you are already having other psychological therapy.

How long will the study take?

The online course or counselling lasts four to six weeks, and we'll check in with you one month after that, so about two months in total.

Who will see my answers to the questionnaires?

Your answers will be kept private and stored securely on an encrypted database, only seen by the research team.

How to find out more

Marylouise Mc Closkey

mmccloskey29@qub.ac.uk 07546774029 Official trial record

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