Self-compassion letter tool for healthcare worker well-being: a qualitative descriptive analysis
Objective This qualitative study aimed to identify categories within therapeutic self-compassion letters written by healthcare workers. Resulting categories were assessed for their relevance to the construct of self-compassion. Design This was a qualitative descriptive study that used summative content analysis and inductive coding. Setting A US-based academic healthcare system. Participants Healthcare workers who attended a self-compassion webinar were recruited. Intervention The online self-compassion tool asked participants to write a letter to themselves from the perspective of a friend providing support and encouragement. Results 116 letters were analysed. Five major categories emerged: Looking Forward, Reaffirming Self, Reaffirming Reminders, Hardships and Self-Disparagement. Respondents’ letters were mostly positively framed and forward thinking, including their hopes of improving themselves and their lives in the future. Negative content generally described hardships and often