Karen Bluth1,2, Christine Lathren3, Johanna V T Silbersack Hickey4, Sheryl Zimmerman4,5, Christopher J Wretman4,5, Philip D Sloane4,6. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. 2. Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. 3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. 4. The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. 5. School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. 6. Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who work in nursing homes (NHs) face significant work and personal stress. Self-compassion training has been shown to decrease stress postintervention in previous studies among healthcare providers and those in helping professions. This study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of self-compassion training to address CNA stress and well-being. DESIGN: Pre-post intervention. SETTING: Three mid-size, nonprofit NHs in North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty CNAs, with a mean age of 49, 96% of whom were female, and 83% black/African American. INTERVENTION: In one NH, participants received an 8-week, 2.5-h/session (20 h total) group intervention. At the time of recruitment for NHs 2 and 3, a briefer format (6-week, 1-h/session; 6 h total) became available and was preferred by CNAs, thus both NHs 2 and 3 participants received a 6-h group intervention. All interventions occurred in meeting rooms within participating NHs during shift changes. MEASUREMENTS: Intervention attendance, retention, and acceptability; self-compassion, stress, burnout, depression, and attitudes toward residents with dementia, and job satisfaction pre-, post-, 3-month post-, and 6-month postintervention were assessed. RESULTS: Attendance and program satisfaction were high, and attrition was low for both training formats. Self-compassion was significantly improved at all time periods (p < 0.001), and stress and depression improved significantly through 3 months (p < 0.05), but not 6 months. No statistically significant change in job satisfaction was noted. CONCLUSION: Self-compassion interventions are feasible and acceptable for CNAs working in NHs and show promise for managing stress and improving well-being and compassion toward residents. The briefer 6-h format may maximize participation, while still providing benefits.
BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVES: Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who work in nursing homes (NHs) face significant work and personal stress. Self-compassion training has been shown to decrease stress postintervention in previous studies among healthcare providers and those in helping professions. This study examines the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of self-compassion training to address CNA stress and well-being. DESIGN: Pre-post intervention. SETTING: Three mid-size, nonprofit NHs in North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty CNAs, with a mean age of 49, 96% of whom were female, and 83% black/African American. INTERVENTION: In one NH, participants received an 8-week, 2.5-h/session (20 h total) group intervention. At the time of recruitment for NHs 2 and 3, a briefer format (6-week, 1-h/session; 6 h total) became available and was preferred by CNAs, thus both NHs 2 and 3 participants received a 6-h group intervention. All interventions occurred in meeting rooms within participating NHs during shift changes. MEASUREMENTS: Intervention attendance, retention, and acceptability; self-compassion, stress, burnout, depression, and attitudes toward residents with dementia, and job satisfaction pre-, post-, 3-month post-, and 6-month postintervention were assessed. RESULTS: Attendance and program satisfaction were high, and attrition was low for both training formats. Self-compassion was significantly improved at all time periods (p < 0.001), and stress and depression improved significantly through 3 months (p < 0.05), but not 6 months. No statistically significant change in job satisfaction was noted. CONCLUSION: Self-compassion interventions are feasible and acceptable for CNAs working in NHs and show promise for managing stress and improving well-being and compassion toward residents. The briefer 6-h format may maximize participation, while still providing benefits.
Authors: Sheryl Zimmerman; Christianna S Williams; Peter S Reed; Malaz Boustani; John S Preisser; Elizabeth Heck; Philip D Sloane Journal: Gerontologist Date: 2005-10
Authors: Rebecca A Campo; Karen Bluth; Sheila J Santacroce; Sarah Knapik; Julia Tan; Stuart Gold; Kamaira Philips; Susan Gaylord; Gary N Asher Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2017-01-19 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Katherine S McGilton; Astrid Escrig-Pinol; Adam Gordon; Charlene H Chu; Franziska Zúñiga; Montserrat Gea Sanchez; Veronique Boscart; Julienne Meyer; Kirsten N Corazzini; Alessandro Ferrari Jacinto; Karen Spilsbury; Annica Backman; Kezia Scales; Anette Fagertun; Bei Wu; David Edvardsson; Michael J Lepore; Angela Y M Leung; Elena O Siegel; Maiko Noguchi-Watanabe; Jing Wang; Barbara Bowers Journal: J Am Med Dir Assoc Date: 2020-06-11 Impact factor: 4.669
Authors: Christine Lathren; Karen Sheffield-Abdullah; Philip D Sloane; Karen Bluth; Johanna V T S Hickey; Christopher J Wretman; Laura Prochnow Phillips; Sheryl Zimmerman Journal: Geriatr Nurs Date: 2021-09-22 Impact factor: 2.361
Authors: Victoria Pérez; Ernesto J Menéndez-Crispín; Carmen Sarabia-Cobo; Pablo de Lorena; Angela Fernández-Rodríguez; Julia González-Vaca Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-09-11 Impact factor: 4.614