Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Development and Evaluation of a Novel Mindful-Compassion Art Therapy (MCAT) Supervision for Self-Care and Collegial Support Among End-of-Life Care Professionals in Singapore
Brief Summary: Background: The need for empathy and the difficulties of coping with morality when caring for the dying and the bereaved pose great psychological and spiritual strains. End-of-Life (EoL) care professionals including doctors, nurses and social workers are particularly prone to burnout given the intense emotional and existential nature of their work. Supervision is one important way to provide adequate support that focuses on both professional and personal competencies in working with death and loss. Previous research has provided strong evidence that support the inclusion of art therapy within supervision for it had effectively reduced burnout and enhanced emotional regulation. Combining the practice of mindfulness in art-therapy based supervision has immense potential to create a dynamic platform for self-care and collegial support, of which could ultimately cultivate sustained resilience, compassion and growth among those immersed the fields of hospice and palliative care.

Methods/Design: A randomized wait-list control trial design. 60 EoL care professionals were randomly allocated into one of two groups: (i) Intervention group (MCAT Supervision), and (ii) Control group (MCAT Supervision will be provided after the intervention group completed all supervision sessions). Both quantitative and qualitative outcomes were assessed at baseline, immediately after intervention, and four weeks post intervention. Primary outcome measure included level of burnout. Secondary outcomes included death attitude and fear of death, emotional awareness and regulation, resilience, compassion, and overall quality of life. Qualitative data were analyzed using Framework method.

Discussion: The integration of art and mindfulness practice to process the needs of professional EoL caregivers for self-care is a scarcely explored area in the field of hospice and palliative care in Singapore and in the international context. This pilot study proposes to develop and test a novel Mindful-Compassion Art Therapy (MCAT) Supervision for professional EoL caregivers. The expected outcome would generate new knowledge contributing to advancements in both theories and practice in hospice and palliative care for Singapore and across the globe.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria

1. General internal medicine and family physicians
2. In practice for 5-30 years

Exclusion Criteria:

1. physicians who specialize in areas other than general internal medicine and family medicine
2. physicians who have been in practice less than 5 years or more than 30 years
B: Inclusion Criteria:

HCPs including physicians, trainee physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, Physician Assistants, and respiratory therapists providing patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

* A single-item stress scale will be used as a screen for eligibility; a minimum score of 6 on a 10-point response scale will be needed to meet inclusion criteria
* Subjects who have at least a 5% increase from baseline in heart rate after exposure to a personalized stressful script OR at least a 33% increase in skin conductance after exposure to the script
* Willingness to address burnout symptoms by non-pharmacological means
* All subjects must provide Informed Consent prior to enrollment in the study.
* Willingness to wear the provided Apple Watch for the data collection process

Exclusion Criteria:

* Antipsychotic medications or beta-blockers
* Current suicidal or homicidal ideation (suicidal ideation as screened by C-SSRI survey pre-enrollment)
* Previous instruction in TM
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Workers with at least one chronic physical condition (\> 6 months).
* Working full time (at least 20 hours per week).
* Able to read and speak in English language.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Impending retirement or major career change (next 12 months).
* Not available to attend group workshops after working hours.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Frontline EoL caregivers including doctors, nurses, social workers and allied health professionals
* Currently working in field of hospice and palliative care
* Fluent in both written and verbal English
* Able to provide informed consent
* Not suffering from major mental health problems

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not fluent in both written and verbal English
* Unable to provide informed consent
* Suffering from major mental health problems

Answer: D