Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) For Frontline Healthcare Workers In Contact With COVID-19 Patients
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had deleterious consequences for the mental health of frontline healthcare workers worldwide. One systemic review of the literature found high prevalence rates of anxiety (67.55%), depression (58.89%), and stress (62.99%) reported by this population (Vizheh et al., 2020). Additionally, high rates of burnout and symptoms associated with trauma have also been ubiquitous during the pandemic for frontline healthcare workers. The purpose of this study is to investigate Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) as a remotely delivered intervention for frontline healthcare workers in contact with COVID-19 patients to reduce symptoms associated with stress, depression, anxiety, burnout, and trauma as well as improve characteristics associated with well-being including self-compassion, emotion regulation, and resilience. Methods: This pilot study recruited frontline healthcare workers who have been or currently are in contact with COVID-19 patients to volunteer and participate in a 9-week CBRT intervention which took place remotely over Zoom. A within-group repeated measures design was implemented. Effectiveness was assessed by a battery of six psychometrically validated surveys as well as qualitative questions that were administered at baseline, at the conclusion of the CBRT intervention, and finally four weeks after completion of the training. Results: Due to a small N = 9, simulated data derived from mean and SD of the group scores were used to obtain a greater number of observations for statistical testing. Symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, and trauma were significantly reduced by time 3. Positive psychological characteristics including self-compassion, mentalized affectivity, and resilience significantly improved by time 3 as well. Qualitative data support the quantitative results.
Healthcare workers, intervention, COVID-19, mindfulness, compassion, mental health, Clinical Psychology
City University of New York - City College
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