Optimizing Compassion Training in Medical Trainees Using an Adjunct mHealth App: A Preliminary Single-Arm Feasibility and Acceptability Study
BackgroundWhile structured compassion training programs have shown promise for increasing compassion among medical trainees, a major challenge is applying the concepts and practices taught during the program into the complex, dynamic, time-pressured, and often hectic hospital...
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JMIR Publications
2024-11-01
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| Series: | JMIR Formative Research |
| Online Access: | https://formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e60670 |
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| author | Jennalee S Wooldridge Emily C Soriano Gage Chu Anaheed Shirazi Desiree Shapiro Marta Patterson Hyun-Chung Kim Matthew S Herbert |
| author_facet | Jennalee S Wooldridge Emily C Soriano Gage Chu Anaheed Shirazi Desiree Shapiro Marta Patterson Hyun-Chung Kim Matthew S Herbert |
| author_sort | Jennalee S Wooldridge |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundWhile structured compassion training programs have shown promise for increasing compassion among medical trainees, a major challenge is applying the concepts and practices taught during the program into the complex, dynamic, time-pressured, and often hectic hospital workplace.
ObjectiveThe purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of Compassion Coach, a mobile health (mHealth) smartphone app designed to bolster a 6-week mindfulness and self-compassion training program for medical trainees.
MethodsIn Compassion Coach, notifications to remind, encourage, and measure the perceived impact of informal mindfulness and compassion practices taught during the program were delivered at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 7 PM, respectively, 3 times per week over the course of the training program. The app also contained a library of guided audio formal mindfulness and compassion practices to allow quick and easy access. In this pilot study, we collected data from 29 medical students and residents who downloaded Compassion Coach and completed surveys assessing perceived effectiveness and acceptability. Engagement with the Compassion Coach app was passively tracked through notification response rate and library resource access over time.
ResultsThe average response rate to notifications was 58% (SD 29%; range 12%-98%), with a significant decline over time (P=.009; odds ratio 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99). Across all participants and occasions, the majority agreed the informal practices prompted by Compassion Coach helped them feel grounded and centered (110/150, 73%), improved compassion (29/41, 71%), reduced burnout (106/191, 56%), and improved their mood (133/191, 70%). In total, 16 (55%) of the 29 participants accessed guided audio recordings on average 3 (SD 3.4) times throughout the program. At the posttreatment time point, most participants (13/18, 72%) indicated that Compassion Coach helped them engage in compassion practices in daily life, and half (9/18, 50%) indicated that Compassion Coach helped improve interactions with patients.
ConclusionsOverall, preliminary results of Compassion Coach are encouraging and suggest the integration of a smartphone app with an ongoing mindfulness and self-compassion training program may bolster the effects of the program on medical trainees. However, there was variability in engagement with Compassion Coach and perceived helpfulness. Additional research is indicated to optimize this novel mHealth approach and conduct a study powered to formally evaluate effects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3dc5597274d7464dab859e3f395159c8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2561-326X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JMIR Formative Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-3dc5597274d7464dab859e3f395159c82024-11-26T14:00:30ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Formative Research2561-326X2024-11-018e6067010.2196/60670Optimizing Compassion Training in Medical Trainees Using an Adjunct mHealth App: A Preliminary Single-Arm Feasibility and Acceptability StudyJennalee S Wooldridgehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2815-5974Emily C Sorianohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1069-9324Gage Chuhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2589-7443Anaheed Shirazihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3516-7009Desiree Shapirohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1367-8713Marta Pattersonhttps://orcid.org/0009-0002-9201-3118Hyun-Chung Kimhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6339-3962Matthew S Herberthttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-7395-6271 BackgroundWhile structured compassion training programs have shown promise for increasing compassion among medical trainees, a major challenge is applying the concepts and practices taught during the program into the complex, dynamic, time-pressured, and often hectic hospital workplace. ObjectiveThe purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of Compassion Coach, a mobile health (mHealth) smartphone app designed to bolster a 6-week mindfulness and self-compassion training program for medical trainees. MethodsIn Compassion Coach, notifications to remind, encourage, and measure the perceived impact of informal mindfulness and compassion practices taught during the program were delivered at 7 AM, 12 PM, and 7 PM, respectively, 3 times per week over the course of the training program. The app also contained a library of guided audio formal mindfulness and compassion practices to allow quick and easy access. In this pilot study, we collected data from 29 medical students and residents who downloaded Compassion Coach and completed surveys assessing perceived effectiveness and acceptability. Engagement with the Compassion Coach app was passively tracked through notification response rate and library resource access over time. ResultsThe average response rate to notifications was 58% (SD 29%; range 12%-98%), with a significant decline over time (P=.009; odds ratio 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99). Across all participants and occasions, the majority agreed the informal practices prompted by Compassion Coach helped them feel grounded and centered (110/150, 73%), improved compassion (29/41, 71%), reduced burnout (106/191, 56%), and improved their mood (133/191, 70%). In total, 16 (55%) of the 29 participants accessed guided audio recordings on average 3 (SD 3.4) times throughout the program. At the posttreatment time point, most participants (13/18, 72%) indicated that Compassion Coach helped them engage in compassion practices in daily life, and half (9/18, 50%) indicated that Compassion Coach helped improve interactions with patients. ConclusionsOverall, preliminary results of Compassion Coach are encouraging and suggest the integration of a smartphone app with an ongoing mindfulness and self-compassion training program may bolster the effects of the program on medical trainees. However, there was variability in engagement with Compassion Coach and perceived helpfulness. Additional research is indicated to optimize this novel mHealth approach and conduct a study powered to formally evaluate effects.https://formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e60670 |
| spellingShingle | Jennalee S Wooldridge Emily C Soriano Gage Chu Anaheed Shirazi Desiree Shapiro Marta Patterson Hyun-Chung Kim Matthew S Herbert Optimizing Compassion Training in Medical Trainees Using an Adjunct mHealth App: A Preliminary Single-Arm Feasibility and Acceptability Study JMIR Formative Research |
| title | Optimizing Compassion Training in Medical Trainees Using an Adjunct mHealth App: A Preliminary Single-Arm Feasibility and Acceptability Study |
| title_full | Optimizing Compassion Training in Medical Trainees Using an Adjunct mHealth App: A Preliminary Single-Arm Feasibility and Acceptability Study |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing Compassion Training in Medical Trainees Using an Adjunct mHealth App: A Preliminary Single-Arm Feasibility and Acceptability Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing Compassion Training in Medical Trainees Using an Adjunct mHealth App: A Preliminary Single-Arm Feasibility and Acceptability Study |
| title_short | Optimizing Compassion Training in Medical Trainees Using an Adjunct mHealth App: A Preliminary Single-Arm Feasibility and Acceptability Study |
| title_sort | optimizing compassion training in medical trainees using an adjunct mhealth app a preliminary single arm feasibility and acceptability study |
| url | https://formative.jmir.org/2024/1/e60670 |
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