Compassion-centered chaplain support to boost team safety in cancer care
Official title: Feasibility study of a chaplain-delivered compassion intervention to improve psychological safety among interprofessional healthcare teams
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11362465 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A chaplain-led program tests whether compassionate, mindfulness-based care can make oncology teams feel safer, more connected, and better able to support both providers and patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | June 19, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $273,536 |
| NIH project number | 5R34AT012509-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11362465 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Hospitals and oncology teams interested in implementing the CCSH-TI program and measuring its effects.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not the primary focus; the study targets healthcare teams, though improved team functioning may indirectly help patients.
What this research studies
This project tests a chaplain-delivered intervention designed to strengthen psychological safety and civility within interprofessional oncology teams. It emphasizes organization-wide change, aiming to improve teamwork and reduce burnout by fostering compassion for self and others. The study uses a feasibility framework to see how easily hospitals can implement the program and measure its impact on team dynamics and well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, healthcare teams in oncology could experience less burnout and better collaboration, potentially improving patient care and outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests team-based, compassion-focused approaches show promise, but high-quality evidence is still limited and this study aims to improve data quality.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mascaro, Jennifer Streiffer — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Mascaro, Jennifer Streiffer
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.