Mindfulness program using loving‑kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity for healthcare professionals
Project FIERCE - Fostering Internal and External Respect, Compassion, and Equanimity: A Mindfulness-Based Intervention to Reduce Stress Through the Cultivation of Loving-Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity in Healthcare Professionals
This program will test whether a six-week online mindfulness course teaching loving‑kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity can reduce stress in full‑time physicians.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, Los Angeles Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT07283744 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This single-site, two-arm, parallel-group randomized trial compares a six-week, manualized online meditation program called Building Emotional Strength Training (BEST) to a waitlist control for full‑time physicians. The intervention is delivered live via Zoom once weekly during the workday by an experienced meditation instructor in group format. Participants are screened for at least mild perceived stress (PSS‑4) and excluded if they have a regular meditation practice or use tobacco regularly. Outcomes focus on changes in perceived stress and related psychosocial and inflammatory measures over the intervention period.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are full‑time physicians (M.D. or D.O.), age 18 or older, fluent in English, able to attend the six weekly daytime Zoom sessions, and who report at least mild perceived stress without a current, regular meditation practice.
Not a fit: People who are already maintaining a consistent meditation practice, who have very low baseline stress, who regularly use tobacco, or who cannot attend the scheduled live sessions are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could reduce perceived stress and burnout among participating physicians and potentially improve provider well‑being and patient care quality.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mindfulness and compassion‑based programs for healthcare workers have shown modest to moderate reductions in stress and burnout, though loving‑kindness–focused interventions are less extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1) full-time physician (M.D. or D.O.), 2) at least 18 years of age, 3) able to attend the six-week intervention, 4) fluent in English, and 5) access to the internet and email. Exclusion Criteria. 1) having a current and consistent meditation practice (i.e., engaging in a formal meditation practice at least three days per week for five minutes each day), 2) previous participation in a Four Immeasurable course (e.g., attending a Brahmaviharas meditation retreat), 3) absence of at least mild levels of perceived stress as determined by a score less than five on the four-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4; 92), 4) regular tobacco use (given its impact on immune function; 90), and 5) failure to agree to the informed consent. The presence or absence of perceived stress will be assessed using the PSS-4 during the initial phone screening.
Where this trial is running
Los Angeles, California
- University of California, Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Julienne E Bower, Ph.D. — University of California, Los Angeles, Psychology Department
- Study coordinator: J Richard T Korecki, M.A.
- Email: tkorecki@g.ucla.edu
- Phone: 17204950812
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.