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NCT Number: NCT07097402

Examination of a Self-Compassion Course for Healthcare Providers Working With People With Multiple Sclerosis

Clinical staff working with people with multiple sclerosis often face emotional fatigue and high levels of burnout. The Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course is an evidence-based intervention that teaches participants how to meet distress with kindness and care. This study will recruit up to 40 staff from the Barlo MS Clinic at St. Michael's Hospital to take part in a 6-week, 6-session Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course. Participants will be asked to complete surveys before and after the course to understand the effects of the course on a range of outcomes. Participants will be invited to take part in one qualitative interview on their perspectives on the course.

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Key information

Conditions

Burnout Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Burnout, Psychological Compassion Stress, Psychological

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Able to understand spoken and written English
  • Current professional affiliation with the Barlo MS clinic

Exclusion criteria

  • Severe active mental health impairment (psychosis, suicidality)

Treatment and study plan

Self-compassion intervention (Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course)

Behavioral

An online 6-week mindful self-compassion course with weekly sessions.

Primary outcomes

  1. Recruitment

    Time frame: 6 months

    The investigators will measure the number of participants eligible for and recruited to the study.

  2. Retention

    Time frame: 6 months

    The investigators will measure the percentage of participants who complete outcome data.

  3. Adherence

    Time frame: 6 months

    The investigators will measure the number of participants who completed the Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities course.

  4. Follow-up rates

    Time frame: 6 months

    The investigators will measure the percentage of participants who complete outcome measures pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 3 months post-intervention.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) Version 5

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

    Measures the positive and negative effects of one's compassion for those that they help. Includes with subscales for compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue (including burnout). Answers are assessed using a 5-point Likert scale, with higher scores on the compassion satisfaction sub-scale indicating higher compassion satisfaction, and higher scores on compassion fatigue sub-scale indicating higher burnout.

  2. Self-Compassion Scale - Short Form

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

    Measures how one typically acts towards themselves in difficult times. The total score ranges from a 1-5, with higher scores representing high self-compassion.

  3. Relational Compassion Scale

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

    Measure's ones tendencies for receiving and providing relational compassion. Answers are assessed using a 4-point Likert scale. Higher scores represent higher compassion for self and others.

  4. Perceived Stress Scale-10

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

    Measures one's thoughts and feelings pertaining to stress. The total score can range from 0-40, with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.

  5. Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale - Short Form

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

    Measures emotion regulation. Answers are assessed using a 5-point Likert scale. Higher values indicate greater difficulties in emotion regulation.

  6. Dispositional Joy Scale

    Time frame: Baseline, post-intervention (6 weeks after baseline), and 3 months post-intervention

    Measures trait/dispositional joy. Answers are assessed using a 7-point Likert scale, with higher scores representing higher joy.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Jillian Scandiffio, MSc

CONTACT

[email protected]

Robert Simpson, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

416-360-4000 ext. 40047

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Robert Simpson

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 31, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 31, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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