A Mindful Compassion Care Program to reduce burnout and work-related distress among frontline nurses who cared for patients with COVID-19: A pilot study.
Chiara Bonetto, Simone Cheli, Luca Bodini, E. Allegrini, Stefano Porru, Lidia del Piccolo, Michela Rimondini, Francesco Amaddeo, Antonio Lasalvia
Journal of Health Psychology March 31, 2026 DOI: 10.1177/13591053261433480 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Non-randomized controlled trial Pilot study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 33 |
| Population | Frontline nurses who worked with COVID-19 patients in a large hospital in northern Italy |
| Intervention | Mindful Compassion Care Program (MCCP) |
| Duration | 7-week program |
| Key findings | The MCCP intervention produced significant improvements in emotional exhaustion, cynicism, perceived stress, and mindfulness skills compared to a waitlisted control, with no drop-outs during the intervention phase. The authors suggest the program is feasible and promising for reducing burnout-related distress. |
Abstract
This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the Mindful Compassion Care Program (MCCP) in reducing burnout and work-related distress among frontline nurses who worked with COVID-19 patients. A non-randomized controlled design with repeated measures was adopted in a large hospital in northern Italy. Thirty-three nurses participated. The intervention group attended a 7-week mindfulness- and compassion-based program, while the control group was waitlisted. Outcomes included emotional exhaustion, cynicism, perceived stress, mindfulness skills, and self-reassurance. Repeated measures ANOVA showed significant group-by-time interactions for emotional exhaustion (ηp2 = 0.249), cynicism (ηp2 = 0.174), perceived stress (ηp2 = 0.166), and mindfulness skills (ηp2 = 0.216). Mixed-effects models confirmed significant improvements in perceived stress, mindfulness skills, and self-reassurance. No drop-outs occurred during the intervention phase. The MCCP appears feasible and promising in reducing burnout-related distress. Larger randomized trials are warranted.
Citations in the library
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