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

NCT ID: NCT05942469

Last Updated: 2025-09-02

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 100 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-03-18
• Study Completion Date: 2026-08-31

Brief 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

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

FOREST + Assessments

UCAN staff will participate in Monthly Skill Sessions and complete FOREST content modules in the Learning Management System (LMS). Staff will also be invited to complete annual assessments for primary and secondary outcome measures, as well as annual interviews and focus groups to gather feedback on progress, implementation, and content.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

FOREST

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

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.

Interventions

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.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 18 and over
• Currently employed by UCAN
• Has internet access
• Speaks and reads English

Exclusion Criteria

• None

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Northwestern University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Judith Moskowitz

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Judith Moskowitz, PhD, MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Northwestern University

Locations

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Amanda Summers, MA

Role: CONTACT

amanda.summers@northwestern.edu

3125035247

Caroline Leong, BA

Role: CONTACT

caroline.leong1@northwestern.edu

Facility Contacts

Amanda Summers, MA

Role: primary

amanda.summers@northwestern.edu

312-503-5247

Caroline Leong, BA

Role: backup

caroline.leong1@northwestern.edu

Other Identifiers

STU00219630

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id