Interpersonal MindfulnessProgram (IMP)

Interpersonal MindfulnessProgram (IMP)

Objectives: There are a number of mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) that have demonstrated effectiveness for patients and health care professionals. The Interpersonal MindfulnessProgram (IMP) is a relatively new MBP, developed to teach those with prior Mindfulnesstraining to deepen their mindful presence, empathy and compassion in the interpersonal domain. The aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility of using the IMP with mental health care workers and assessing its effects on levels of mindfulness, self-compassion, empathy, stress and professional quality of life when compared with the control group participants.

Methods: The IMP training consisted of nine weekly 2.5-h sessions and daily home practice (45-60 min). Twenty-five participants (mean age, 51.4 years) with Mindfulnessexperience participated in the training. Twenty-two individuals in the control group (mean age, 47.5 years) were recruited from those who had followed a Mindfulnesstraining before. Feasibility of the IMP was assessed in the training participants in six domains. All study participants completed self-report questionnaires before and after the training.

Results: The IMP training was considered highly acceptable and very useful. The training had a significant positive effect on self-compassion, empathy and compassion fatigue, but no effect on mindfulness, stress and compassion satisfaction. Five participants reported some mild adverse reactions.

Conclusions: The IMP training appears feasible for health care professionals and seems to induce some positive effects. A few mild adverse effects were reported. Further research on the effectiveness and possible mechanisms of change of the IMP training in larger samples is needed.

Rank: 55
First Author: Bartels-Velthuis
Outcome: Stress,Emot. Exhaust./Comp. Fatig.,Intervention Experience,Mindfulness,Self-Compassion,Empathy,Quality of Life
Outcome p-value: Stress:●, Emotional Exhaustion/Compassion Fatigue:⭑, Intervention Experience:●, Mindfulness:●, Self-Compassion:⭑, Empathy:⭑, Quality of Life:●
Intervention Category: Health Literacy and Anti-Stigma
Time per Employee (hours): 22.5
Hours per Employee: 23
D&B Study Quality Rating: 16
Reviewer Confidence: 2.5
Country: The Netherlands
Study Design Type: Quasi-experimental
Materials Available to Implement: Intervention outlined in publication. Intervention handouts are available in reference: Kramer, G., Hicks, P. K., & Meleo-Meyer, F. (2015). Interpersonal Mindfulnessprogram: A teachers outline & resource guide. Seattle: Metta Programs. For support to teach in hospital settings contact phyllishicks@gmail.com
Materials Available: yes
Organiz./Individ. Focus: Individual
Prevention Category: Primary,Secondary
Effect Size: Medium
Effect size Small:
Effect size Medium: Emot. Exhaust./Comp. Fatig.,Self-Compassion,Empathy
Reference: Bartels-Velthuis, A. A., van den Brink, E., Koster, F., & Hoenders, H. J. R. (2020). The Interpersonal MindfulnessProgram for Health Care Professionals: A Feasibility Study. Mindfulness, 101518348, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-020-01477-5