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Objective: The increased demand on healthcare professionals (HCPs) during the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) pandemic reduces opportunities for HCPs to deliver compassionate care to patients and to maintain self-care. This study explored how HCPs understand and experience compassionate working practices during the Covid-19 pandemic to better support HCPs' wellbeing and to sustain quality of care. Design: All nineteen participants worked as an HCP during the Covid-19 pandemic, resided in the United Kingdom (UK) and took part in individual semi-structured interviews. Main outcome measures: Using a thematic analysis approach, we developed three themes: (a) The art of compassionate care: Feeling and action, (b) The impact of Covid-19 on compassionate care and (c) Suffering during Covid-19: The importance of self-compassion and self-care. Results: Overall, the analysis illustrated the strong and negative impact that Covid-19 had on the ability to deliver compassionate care, resulting in moral injury and psychological and behavioural difficulties for HCPs, particularly in terms of self-care. Conclusions: This research demonstrates an imperative need for organisations to better support HCPs' health and wellbeing, through a self-care system that promotes self-compassionate and self-care practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical decision-making is a core competency of the nursing role, with nurses having to make decisions surrounding patient care and patient safety daily. With decision-making being linked to psychological outcomes, it is important to consider potential areas that may support or hinder nurses' wellbeing whilst navigating clinical decisions. The present study sought to investigate the relationship between clinical decision-making and moral distress, and further explore the role of personality, perfectionism, philotimo (a virtue describing the desire to do right by oneself and others, aligning with one's sense of morality), and self-compassion. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted using Qualtrics. Associations between clinical decision-making and moral distress, burnout, personality, perfectionism, philotimo, and self-compassion were examined using univariate and multivariate statistics. One hundred and forty-three nurses from the United Kingdom completed an online questionnaire. Eligibility criteria included individuals who had practised in the nursing profession for a minimum of six months. To ensure that all participants were practising across the United Kingdom, the eligibility criteria was made clear in the study advertisement, and the consent form. The consent form required participants to confirm that they reached these criteria to proceed with the study. Results revealed that clinical decision-making was associated with moral distress experience, and that both openness to experience, and philotimo mediated this relationship, independently. In addition to this, self-compassion was significantly associated with clinical decision-making across senior banded nursing roles, but this was non-significant for junior banded nursing roles. Findings highlight the role of individual differences when looking at the impact of clinical decision-making upon nurses' wellbeing and offers explanation for any variance in moral distress experience across nursing professionals. This research identifies fundamental differences between junior and senior nurses in relation to clinical decision-making and self-compassion that should be considered in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher Educational Institutions across disciplines have seen an increased number of students who are highly distressed over grades, and this distress is often accompanied by pervasive demands on academic staff. The current study explored the relationship between academic entitlement and mental health and how it is mediated by mindfulness. Participants completed three scales (academic entitlement, depression anxiety and stress, and mindfulness). Results showed that as symptoms of depression and anxiety increase, academic entitlement increases. Furthermore, this relationship is mediated by acting with awareness, a facet of mindfulness. Findings from the current study support the use of mindfulness interventions in potentially disrupting the link between academic entitlement and mental ill-health. Future directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a series of three companion papers published in this Journal, we identify and validate the available thermal stress indicators (TSIs). In this first paper of the series, we conducted a systematic review (registration: INPLASY202090088) to identify all TSIs and provide reliable information regarding their use (funded by EU Horizon 2020; HEAT-SHIELD). Eight databases (PubMed, Agricultural and Environmental Science Collection, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Russian Science Citation Index, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar) were searched from database inception to 15 April 2020. No restrictions on language or study design were applied. Of the 879 publications identified, 232 records were considered for further analysis. This search identified 340 instruments and indicators developed between 200 BC and 2019 AD. Of these, 153 are nomograms, instruments, and/or require detailed non-meteorological information, while 187 can be mathematically calculated utilizing only meteorological data. Of these meteorology-based TSIs, 127 were developed for people who are physically active, and 61 of those are eligible for use in occupational settings. Information regarding the equation, operating range, interpretation categories, required input data, as well as a free software to calculate all 187 meteorology-based TSIs is provided. The information presented in this systematic review should be adopted by those interested in performing on-site monitoring and/or big data analytics for climate services to ensure appropriate use of the meteorology-based TSIs. Studies two and three in this series of companion papers present guidance on the application and validation of these TSIs, to guide end users of these indicators for more effective use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a series of three companion papers published in this Journal, we identify and validate the available thermal stress indicators (TSIs). In this third paper, we conducted field experiments across nine countries to evaluate the efficacy of 61 meteorology-based TSIs for assessing the physiological strain experienced by individuals working in the heat. We monitored 372 experi-enced and acclimatized workers during 893 full work shifts. We continuously assessed core body temperature, mean skin temperature, and heart rate data together with pre/post urine specific gravity and color. The TSIs were evaluated against 17 published criteria covering physiological parameters, practicality, cost effectiveness, and health guidance issues. Simple meteorological parameters explained only a fraction of the variance in physiological heat strain (R2 = 0.016 to 0.427; p < 0.001), reflecting the importance of adopting more sophisticated TSIs. Nearly all TSIs correlated with mean skin temperature (98%), mean body temperature (97%), and heart rate (92%), while 66% of TSIs correlated with the magnitude of dehydration and 59% correlated with core body temperature (r = 0.031 to 0.602; p < 0.05). When evaluated against the 17 published criteria, the TSIs scored from 4.7 to 55.4% (max score = 100%). The indoor (55.4%) and outdoor (55.1%) Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature and the Universal Thermal Climate Index (51.7%) scored higher compared to other TSIs (4.7 to 42.0%). Therefore, these three TSIs have the highest potential to assess the physiological strain experienced by individuals working in the heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loving-kindness meditation has been recognized as a valuable form of meditation practice and features in most mindfulness programs. The present research explored the potential of an alternative non-meditative loving-kindness practice; namely, loving-kindness coloring. University students (N= 180) were randomly assigned to the loving-kindness coloring condition or the meditation condition. Both loving-kindness meditation and loving-kindness coloring were explored by measuring state mindfulness, pre-, and post-intervention. Results indicated that both conditions similarly increased in-state mindfulness and self-compassion, and decreased state anxiety, while there were non-significant differences between the practices. We concluded that there are similar levels of effectiveness to loving kindness meditation when introducing loving kindness coloring. Future implications on the applicability of loving-kindness practices are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have studied help-seeking behaviours regarding students' mental health, highlighting their reluctance when in higher education. This study aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers to formal and informal sources of help-seeking for mental health difficulties in students based in the UK. Data from 304 participants (82% females) was explored using quantitative self-report methods. The results indicated that help-seeking behaviours were related with living arrangements, sexuality and age: Commuter students were more likely to seek help from their personal tutor compared to those living on campus. Students who identified as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Questioning and Transitioning (LGBTQQ) were more likely to engage with off-campus services than non-LGBTQQ students and young people were more likely to seek informal support from family and friends compared to older students. In contrast, the findings show that student help-seeking behaviours were related with a sense of belonging and ethnicity: As students sense of belonging to their university increased, so did their help-seeking behaviour. Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) students were more likely to engage with professional services from personal tutors and mental health services in comparison to White students, who were more likely to seek help from their peers. Findings highlighted the importance of creating effective programmes that encourage students to discuss mental health and improve help-seeking behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universities are facing a difficult challenge in supporting good mental health whilst striving to enhance academic performance. The present study aimed to specifically investigate the relationship between attitudinal and personality constructs that are associated with wellbeing and to explore their association with student academic outcomes. Two-hundred and six undergraduate students were recruited and were given questionnaires measuring mindfulness, self-compassion, resiliency, procrastination, consideration of future consequences, self-criticism and social comparison. At the end of the academic year, the researchers accessed their academic records and documented their academic performance. Results indicated that there are strong, clear associations between better academic performance and higher resiliency, mindfulness, self-compassion and consideration of future consequences, and negative associations to procrastination. We concluded that there is a clear gain to be had in academic performance through enhancing these elements using appropriate interventions which are user friendly, affordable and can be embedded into existing student learning and support to reinforce adaptive coping and life skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health risk behaviours (HRBs) are prevalent within the cystic fibrosis (CF) population, and there is a lack of research around what influences their engagement. This research explored beliefs associated with HRBs within an adult CF population using qualitative semi-structured interviews. Participants' beliefs towards their CF and its life impact were investigated to explore reasons for engaging in HRB. A desire for normalcy was evident, often accompanied by engagement in everyday HRB as a method of minimising the illness identity. Evidence of a life-orientated illness perspective was also prevalent, with participants engaging in some risky behaviours for fun. Overall, there was a lack of knowledge on the consequences of HRB, with many participants reporting not being informed of these by clinicians. This research highlights a dilemma between clinical recommendations and personal life strategies undertaken by individuals with CF to support their identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High levels of stress, anxiety, negative thoughts and emotions are being increasingly reported amongst university students and all impact negatively upon academic performance and student satisfaction. A cross-sectional design was adopted to explore how personality traits and attitudes relevant to wellbeing (i.e. mindfulness, positive and negative affect, perceived stress, self-criticism and resiliency) could best predict student satisfaction as measured by a simulated National Student Survey (NSS). It was found that students who scored higher in mindfulness, positive affect and resiliency reported higher levels of satisfaction on the NSS. Contrarily, negative affect and perceived stress significantly predicted lower levels of satisfaction on the NSS. Mindfulness was the strongest predictor of higher NSS scores; however, students who criticise themselves (the opposite of self-compassion) do not appear to benefit from mindfulness. A directive for introducing 'life skills' within higher education environments, with the purpose of building more resilient and better-performing graduates through mindfulness and self-compassion, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

However, this has not been the case in UK higher education institutions and psychology curriculums, despite the notion that they may make ideal candidates in helping others with mental health difficulties with the enhanced theoretical knowledge-base that psychology students acquire during their studies. It would be advantageous to use MHFA training as a first step to enable undergraduate psychology students to practice elements with which they are already familiar in an applied- and practice-based context to support others. [Extracted from the article]

When the time is right, and the teacher observes that the mind of students has wandered away, the second set of slides with more engaging and interactive material can be used to return students attention back to the taught material. Middle school teachers' mindfulness, occupational health and well-being, and the quality of teacher-student interactions. [Extracted from the article]

Research on the usefulness of mindfulness and self-compassion for dieting has focused on meditative practices. However, meditation can be difficult to maintain, especially while dieting. Thus, the present research attempted to induce mindfulness and self-compassion by using food diaries that required the participant to either focus on concrete (i.e. how they are eating) construals or abstract (i.e. why they are eating) construals. The concrete construals were expected to increase mindfulness and self-compassion, as well as decrease avoidance and negative thoughts (which would further aid the development of mindfulness and self-compassion). Study 1 found that mindfulness and self-compassion mediated the inverse relationship of avoidance and negative thoughts with weight loss. Study 2 showed that concrete construal diaries increased mindfulness and self-compassion, decreased avoidance and negative thoughts, and supported weight loss significantly more than the abstract construal diaries. Study 3, then, compared the concrete construal diaries with a mindful self-compassionate meditation programme. There was no difference in weight loss at the end of the intervention, but at a three-month follow-up, the diaries performed better at weight maintenance. Thus, the concrete construal diaries may promote mindfulness and self-compassion and potentially promote long-term weight loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the effects of using fludarabine, mitoxantrone and dexamethasone in the treatment of patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Impact of the treatment on patients survival; Episodes of opportunistic infections; Occurrence of immunosuppression.