NCT05942469

Fostering Optimal Regulation of Emotion for Prevention of Secondary Trauma (FOREST)

Fostering Optimal Regulation of Emotion for Prevention of Secondary Trauma (FOREST): Implementation and Evaluation of a Burnout Prevention Program for Staff in Gun Violence Prevention Programs

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Northwestern University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

FOREST is a positive emotion skills program designed to target mental health and coping needs for frontline violence prevention workers at UCAN. Ten skills are taught over a period of nine months during existing meetings and wellness activities, as well as in online modules in UCAN's Learning Management System (LMS). Through infusing the FOREST skills throughout UCAN, we hope to inspire organizational culture change that will emphasize the importance of wellbeing and enhance resilience, therefore reducing burnout and turnover.

Detailed description

All frontline UCAN staff will receive the FOREST program. Each month for 9 months there will be a focus on one to two positive emotion skills. The skill(s) of the month will be taught to the staff during existing one-hour wellness meetings/activities, and will be co-facilitated by Positive Emotion Ambassadors (PEAs; UCAN Staff members nominated to infuse the skills into UCAN culture) and Northwestern University. The skill sessions will include didactic content defining the skill and explaining the rationale for inclusion, as well as examples of existing research demonstrating the skills benefits. During the session the group will practice the skill together and discuss ways to use the skill in both work and personal situations. Throughout the month, PEAs will implement the FOREST skill of the month in other existing meetings, check-ins, and team outings The monthly sessions will be observed by a member of the Implementation Resource Team (IRT) who will use a checklist to track that all core pieces of the skill training were delivered. Once a month, the IRT will meet with the PEAs for additional training and support. These sessions will be audio recorded for qualitative data on facilitators and barriers to the skill. Each month a module in UCAN's learning management system (LMS) that covers that month's skill(s) will also become available. The LMS modules will contain skill-related content similar to what is taught in the skill sessions, including a thorough definition of the skill, examples of ways to utilize the skill, a review or summary of the skill, and several knowledge questions to check for comprehension. The LMS content may include text, audio, images, and video components. All UCAN frontline CVI staff will be required to complete the LMS FOREST skill module of the month. Percentage of staff completing each LMS training will be tracked. Annual assessments to assess primary and secondary outcomes will be administered via REDCap. Annual interviews and focus groups will ask for feedback on implementation and content.

Conditions

• Burnout
• Burnout, Professional
• Positive Affect
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Compassion Fatigue
• Job Stress

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	FOREST	The skill sessions will include didactic content defining the skill, rationale for including the skill in FOREST, and research demonstrating that practice of the skill increases positive emotion. In addition, the group will practice the skill together and will discuss ways to practice the skill at work as well as outside of work. Throughout the month, PEAs will implement the FOREST skill of the month in other existing meetings, check-ins, and team outings. Concurrently, a module in UCAN's learning management system (LMS) will become available. The LMS modules will contain skill-related content similar to what is taught in the skill sessions, including a thorough definition of the skill, examples of ways to utilize the skill, a review or summary of the skill, and several knowledge questions to check for comprehension. The LMS content may include text, audio, images, and video components.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-18
• Primary completion: 2026-08-31
• Completion: 2026-08-31
• First posted: 2023-07-12
• Last updated: 2025-09-02

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States