Randomised controlled trial to investigate an online compassionate imagery intervention for improving veterinarian mental wellbeing.

Abstract

Background: Veterinarians are at increased risk of psychological distress due to the regular experience of moral dilemmas, leading to compassion fatigue and burnout. This study explored the efficacy of a 2-week, modified online compassionate imagery intervention for improving veterinarian mental wellbeing.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial design was used with two parallel arms (intervention vs. wait-list control group). One hundred and sixty-two students and qualified veterinarians were randomly allocated to each arm. The intervention group watched a 10-15-minute video every day for 14 days to increase their self-compassion. Participants completed questionnaires to measure outcomes across four time points (baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 1- and 2-month follow-ups).

Results: One hundred and one participants were included in the analysis of variance. The intervention significantly improved resilience (F[2, 198] = 4.39, p = 0.014, ${\eta }_p^2$  = 0.043), self-reassurance (F[2, 198] = 4.61, p = 0.01, ${\eta }_p^2$  = 0.045), self-compassion (F[2, 198] = 8.80, p ≤ 0.001, ${\eta }_p^2$  = 0.08), work-related rumination (distraction detachment: F[2, 198] = 4.92, p = 0.008, ${\eta }_p^2$  = 0.047, problem-solving pondering: F[1.86, 184.82] = 5.88, p = 0.004, ${\eta }_p^2$  = 0.056) and self-criticism (F[1.80, 136.94] = 3.60, p = 0.03, ${\eta }_p^2$  = 0.045). These findings were sustained at follow-up and were associated with small-to-medium and medium-to-large effect sizes.

Limitations: Randomisation was not entirely successful. Due to missing data, an intention-to-treat analysis was not feasible, raising the possibility of an inflated treatment effect. Blinding was not possible due to resource constraints.

Conclusions: An online compassionate imagery intervention was efficacious at improving multiple outcomes associated with veterinarian mental wellbeing. These findings provide a rationale for developing and delivering compassion-based interventions to veterinarians.