Online Self-care Training Program (MAGO Study) (MAGO)

Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Self-Care Training Programme to Reduce Burnout and Promote Work Engagement in Clinical Psychologists: MAGO Study

This study aims to determine the efficacy of MAGO (Online Self-care Training Program for Psychologists), a person-directed, individual, occupational intervention via videoconference in six sessions on a weekly basis. By promoting self-care behaviors, it is expected to reduce burnout levels and to increase work engagement in clinical psychologists working in Chile.

Clinical psychologists are susceptible to develop burnout as a result of facing consistently emotionally taxing job demands and a high requirement for empathy. Implementing self-care behaviors can help to prevent negative consequences of work stress and the promotion of positive outcomes such as optimal professional functioning and enhanced well-being in psychologists. The intervention is a person-directed, individual, primary occupational intervention. It will be carried out via videoconference in six weekly sessions of 45 minutes. MAGO is a program derived from Self-care Assessment for Psychology (SCAP). From a preventive perspective on self-care, items represent strategies or behaviors that may be integrated into one's professional and personal life on a more ongoing and proactive basis to promote well-functioning. Chile has presented a slow but progressive development of e-mental health research, and Internet-based interventions are at an early stage of development in this country. Using videoconference and web-delivered questionnaires are crucial in reaching psychologists considering problems such as long distances of transportation and a tiny budget for mental health. Nevertheless, Chile scores 52 in the Global Connectivity Index, while digital technologies are highly utilized across all social strata.

MAGO is a parallel, two-armed randomized controlled trial with three assessment points (baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up). Participants will be randomized for the program or a no-treatment group.

The intervention is a person-directed, individual, primary occupational intervention. It will be carried out via videoconference in six sessions of 45 minutes (on a weekly basis). Through guided dialogue, individual difficulties and opportunities of each subject will be examined in order to gain self-awareness of personal characteristics (strengths, limitations, maximum workload capacity) in their particular set of job demands and resources. Participants are encouraged to adopt the set of self-care strategies in each dimension, adapting them to their specific context. Activities will be carried out in Spanish by the researcher.

Maslach Burnout Inventory for human services (MBI-HSS) is comprised of 22 items to evaluate emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and personal fulfillment (PF). Total score ranges from 0 to 132, with higher scores indicating more occupational burnout.

Utrecht Work Engagement (UWES-17) is comprised of 17 items. Total score ranges from 0 to 102, with higher scores indicating more work engagement.

Self-Care Assessment for Psychologists (SCAP) is comprised of 21 items. Total score ranges from 21 to 147, with higher scores indicating higher frequency of self-care behaviors.

General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) is comprised of 12 items. Total score ranges from 0 to 12, with higher scores indicating lower levels general health.

Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is comprised of 12 items. Total score ranges from 12 to 84, with higher scores indicating higher levels of perceived social support.

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) is comprised of 21 items. Total score ranges from 0 to 63, with higher scores indicating higher levels of depressive symptomatology.

Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) is comprised of 21 items. Total score ranges from 0 to 63 with higher scores indicating higher levels of anxiety symptoms.

Inclusion Criteria: Chilean psychologists Currently working in the public sector in Chile Available to attend to six online sessions Willing to voluntarily participate Exclusion Criteria: Subjects participating in psychotherapy as clients High scores for depression or anxiety

Dorociak KE, Rupert PA, Bryant FB, Zahniser E. Development of the Professional Self-Care Scale. J Couns Psychol. 2017 Apr;64(3):325-334. doi: 10.1037/cou0000206. Epub 2017 Mar 9.