Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health for Health Behaviors

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Jennifer Mascaro, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Emory University

Disqualifiers: Under 18 years old

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

Duration: 8 weeks

80 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

Emory Spiritual Health has developed a Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health group-based intervention, called CCSH Interventions for Teams, and are enrolling staff and providers into the groups in this randomized study design. The groups will meet once every other week for 60 minutes for 8 weeks (4 sessions total). The investigators will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of this novel team-based intervention that includes mindfulness and compassion-based approaches with mixed-role oncology teams. Employees (n = 80; nurses, advanced practice providers (APPs), physicians, staff) working at an NCI- designated Comprehensive Cancer Center will be randomized by team (8-12 employees/group) to Compassion Centered Spiritual Health Team Intervention (CCSH-TI) or TAU (Treatment as Usual) group. The research objective is to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of CCSH-TI, and to develop and validate a novel, low-burden ambulatory assessment "toolkit" to improve the measurement of psychological safety and burnout.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

Is Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health generally safe for humans?

Research on spiritual health interventions, including meditation and group support, suggests they are generally safe and can lead to positive health outcomes like reduced anxiety and improved mood. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the Compassion Centered Spiritual Health Team Intervention (CCSH-TI) treatment different from other treatments?

The Compassion Centered Spiritual Health Team Intervention (CCSH-TI) is unique because it focuses on addressing the spiritual dimension of health, which is often overlooked in traditional treatments. It aims to enhance holistic health by exploring and mobilizing spiritual factors that promote healing, making it distinct from standard medical or psychological interventions. ^{2 3 4 5 6}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Compassion Centered Spiritual Health Team Intervention (CCSH-TI)?

Research shows that spiritual health interventions, like meditation and group support, can improve health behaviors and outcomes, such as better mood and reduced anxiety. Additionally, spiritual well-being is linked to less depression and despair in patients with serious illnesses, suggesting that CCSH-TI may have similar benefits. ^{3 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jennifer Mascaro, PhD

Principal Investigator

Emory University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for nurses, advanced practice providers, physicians, and staff at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Participants will be part of mixed-role oncology teams with 8-12 members each.

Inclusion Criteria

Full-time employees working in oncology teams at Winship Cancer Institute

Employees working in intensive care at Emory University St. Joseph hospital

Exclusion Criteria

I am under 18 years old.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-3 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive the Compassion-Centered Spiritual Health Team Intervention (CCSH-TI) or Treatment as Usual (TAU) over 8 weeks, with sessions every other week

8 weeks

4 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for feasibility and acceptability of the intervention, with assessments at three timepoints

12 weeks

3 assessments (in-person or virtual)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Compassion Centered Spiritual Health Team Intervention (CCSH-TI)

Trial Overview The study tests a group intervention called CCSH-TI against the usual treatment. Teams are randomly chosen to either join bi-weekly sessions focusing on mindfulness and compassion for 8 weeks or continue their standard routines without these sessions.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: CCSH-TI Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

4-session intervention of 60- minutes each delivered every other week by healthcare chaplains to mixed-role inter-professional teams that includes mindfulness and compassion-based approaches to bolster resilience, compassion for self and others, and psychological safety.

Group II: TAU (treatment as usual) group Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this group will have access to all well-being resources and activities available to them as employees.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Emory University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Collaborator

Trials

886

Recruited

677,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The RHIBS Taxonomy is the first comprehensive classification system for religious components in health interventions, developed through a systematic review of 12,337 papers and consensus from 19 international experts, resulting in 82 defined components across 22 categories.

This taxonomy aims to enhance the clarity and consistency of religious health interventions, facilitating better replication, implementation, and evidence synthesis in healthcare research and practice.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The development of the Religious Health Interventions in Behavioural Science (RHIBS) Taxonomy: a scientific classification of religious practices in health. Patel, R., Jong, J., Worthington, EL., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Spiritual Assessment. [2023]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Review of spiritual health: definition, role, and intervention strategies in health promotion. [2018]

3. Israel pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[FROM PASTORAL CARE TO SPIRITUAL CARE - TRANSFORMING THE CONCEPTION OF THE ROLE OF THE SPIRITUAL CARE PROVIDER]. [2019]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Spiritual AIM and the work of the chaplain: a model for assessing spiritual needs and outcomes in relationship. [2018]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Standardized Spiritual Screening Increases Chaplain Referrals Through the EMR: A Nurse-Chaplain Collaboration for Holistic Acute Healthcare. [2023]

6. Poland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Integrating spirituality into patient care: an essential element of person‑centered care. [2017]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of an educational intervention in "spirituality and health" on knowledge, attitudes, and skills of students in health-related areas: A controlled randomized trial. [2018]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The development of the Religious Health Interventions in Behavioural Science (RHIBS) Taxonomy: a scientific classification of religious practices in health. [2023]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

T.R.U.S.T.: an affirming model for inclusive spiritual care. [2015]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of brief pictorial instruments for assessing spirituality in primary care. [2019]