An Online Compassionate Imagery Intervention for Veterinarian Mental Health

NCT05589116 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FHMS 21022 252 EGA
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 162
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomised control trial aims to determine the efficacy of a two-week, online compassionate imagery intervention on improving veterinarian mental wellbeing. Participants will be randomly allocated to receive the intervention immediately or after a 10-week study period. Self-report questionnaires will be used at four time points to measure change on a range of psychological variables.

Conditions

Compassion; Perfectionism; Rumination; Self-Criticism; Resilience

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in 'Functions of Self-Criticising/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale' (FSCRS; Gilbert, Clarke, Hempel, Miles & Irons, 2004).

  This 22-item scale will be used to measure self-criticism and self-reassurance. Participants are required to respond to statements on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 0 ('not at all like me') - 4 ('extremely like me'). The FSCRS has 3 subscales (Hated Self, Inadequate Self and Reassured Self) which are used to produce an overall self-criticism score (calculated by summing the Hated Self and Inadequate Self items) and a self-reassurance score (calculated by summing the Reassured Self items).

  4 time points: baseline, immediate post-intervention, four weeks post-intervention and eight weeks post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Change in 'Brief Resilience Scale' (BRS; Smith et al., 2008)

  4 time points: baseline, immediate post-intervention, four weeks post-intervention and eight weeks post-intervention

• Change in 'Compassionate Engagement and Action Scales' Self-Compassion scale (CEAS; Gilbert et al., 2017)

  4 time points: baseline, immediate post-intervention, four weeks post-intervention and eight weeks post-intervention

• Change in 'Work-related Rumination Questionnaire' (WRRQ; Cropley, Michalianou, Pravettoni & Millward, 2012)

  4 time points: baseline, immediate post-intervention, four weeks post-intervention and eight weeks post-intervention

• Change in 'Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale - 24 Items' (FMPS-24; Khawaja & Armstrong, 2005).

  4 time points: baseline, immediate post-intervention, four weeks post-intervention and eight weeks post-intervention

• Change in 'Fears of Compassion Scale' (FCS; Gilbert, McEwan, Matos & Rivis, 2011).

  4 time points: baseline, immediate post-intervention, four weeks post-intervention and eight weeks post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants given immediate access to two-week, online compassionate imagery course.

Other: Online Compassionate Imagery Intervention

Wait-list control group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants will not access intervention during 10-week study period (access will be given to online compassionate imagery course after all outcome measures have been completed).

Interventions

Online Compassionate Imagery Intervention OTHER

The intervention comprises 14 pre-recorded, 10-15 minute videos. Participants will be asked to watch one video per day over a two-week period. The videos initially focus on providing psychoeducation about what self-compassion is, before delivering a series of guided Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) informed exercises to cultivate self-compassion. The first week of the intervention will teach key compassion skills, with the second week focusing on skill consolidation.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Any student, recent graduate or qualified veterinary surgeon will be eligible for participation in the study.

You may not qualify if:

• Veterinarians who participated in Wakelin et al.'s (2022) feasibility trial.
• Veterinarians who are currently receiving a compassion- or cognitive-based therapy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Surrey: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Surrey

Guildford, Middlesex, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Wakelin KE, Perman G, Simonds LM. Feasibility and efficacy of an online compassion-focused imagery intervention for veterinarian self-reassurance, self-criticism and perfectionism. Vet Rec. 2023 Jan;192(2):e2177. doi: 10.1002/vetr.2177. Epub 2022 Sep 10.

  PMID: 36087064 BACKGROUND

• Holden CL. Characteristics of Veterinary Students: Perfectionism, Personality Factors, and Resilience. J Vet Med Educ. 2020 Jul;47(4):488-496. doi: 10.3138/jvme.0918-111r. Epub 2020 May 15.

  PMID: 32412364 BACKGROUND

• Crane MF, Phillips JK, Karin E. Trait perfectionism strengthens the negative effects of moral stressors occurring in veterinary practice. Aust Vet J. 2015 Oct;93(10):354-60. doi: 10.1111/avj.12366.

  PMID: 26412116 BACKGROUND

• McArthur M, Mansfield C, Matthew S, Zaki S, Brand C, Andrews J, Hazel S. Resilience in Veterinary Students and the Predictive Role of Mindfulness and Self-Compassion. J Vet Med Educ. 2017 Spring;44(1):106-115. doi: 10.3138/jvme.0116-027R1.

  PMID: 28206835 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Rumination Syndrome

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Gastrointestinal Diseases; Digestive System Diseases; Feeding and Eating Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Assessors will be blinded to treatment allocation
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Participants will be randomly allocated to either a treatment or wait-list control group. The study will use a repeated measures, randomised controlled trial design.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 17, 2022
• First Posted: October 21, 2022
• Study Start: November 29, 2022
• Primary Completion: July 14, 2023
• Study Completion: July 14, 2023
• Last Updated: September 22, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)