Comparison of the Effectiveness of an Abbreviated Program versus a Standard Program in Mindfulness, Self-Compassion and Self-Perceived Empathy in Tutors and Resident Intern Specialists of Family and Community Medicine and Nursing in Spain.

Health professionals are among the most vulnerable to work stress and emotional exhaustion problems. These health professionals include tutors and resident intern specialists, due to the growing demand for the former and the high work overload of the latter. Mindfulness training programs can support these professionals during times of crisis, such as the current global pandemic caused by the coronavirus-19 disease. The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of an abbreviated Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) training program in relation to a standard training program on the levels of mindfulness, self-compassion, and self-perceived empathy in tutors and resident intern specialists of Family and Community Medicine and Nursing. A total of 112 professionals attached to six Spanish National Health System teaching units (TUs) participated in this randomized and controlled clinical trial. Experimental Group (GE) participants were included in the standard or abbreviated MBSR programs. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Self-Compassion Scale short form (SCS-SF), and the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) were administered three times during the study: before, immediately after, and 3 months after the intervention. Adjusted covariance analysis (ANCOVA), using pretest scores as the covariate, showed a significant increase in mindfulness (F(2,91) = 3.271; p = 0.042; η2 = 0.067) and self-compassion (F(2,91) = 6.046; p = 0.003; η2 = 0.117) in the post-test visit, and in self-compassion (F(2,79) = 3.880; p = 0.025; η2 = 0.089) in the follow-up visit, attributable to the implementation of the standard training program. The standard MBSR and MSC training program improves levels of mindfulness and self-compassion, and promotes long-lasting effects in tutors and resident intern specialists. New studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of abbreviated training programs.

Effects of home-based mirror therapy and cognitive therapeutic exercise on the improvement of the upper extremity functions in patients with severe hemiparesis after a stroke: a protocol for a pilot randomised clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Neuroplasticity is defined as the capacity of the brain to reorganise new neuronal pathways. Mirror therapy (MT) and cognitive therapeutic exercise (CTE) are two neurorehabilitation techniques based on neuroplasticity and designed to improve the motor functions of the affected upper extremity in patients with severe hemiparesis after a stroke. Home-based interventions are an appropriate alternative to promote independence and autonomy. The objective of this study is to evaluate which of these techniques, MT and CTE, combined with task-oriented training, is more effective in functional recovery and movement patterns of the upper extremities in patients with severe hemiparesis after a stroke. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a home-based, single-blind, controlled, randomised clinical trial with three parallel arms, including 154 patients who had a stroke aged above 18 years. The primary outcome will be the functionality of the affected upper extremity measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment. Secondary variables will include cognitive performance, emotional state, quality of life and activities of daily living. During 6 weeks, one of the intervention groups will receive a treatment based on MT and the other one on CTE, both combined with task-oriented training. No additional interventions will be provided to the control group. To assess the progress of patients who had a stroke in the subacute phase, all variables will be evaluated at different visits: initial (just before starting treatment and 4 weeks post-stroke), post-intervention (6 weeks after initial) and follow-up (6 months). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (CEIm-2.134/2.019) and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04163666). The results will be disseminated through open-access peer-reviewed journals, conference presentation, broadcast media and a presentation to stakeholders. These study results will provide relevant and novel information on effective neurorehabilitation strategies and improve the quality of intervention programmes aimed at patients after a stroke. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04163666).