The Development of Peace Innovation for Empowering of Self-Kindness and Self-Compassion of Medical Personnel

Abstract

The objectives of the research study are 1) to analyze the factors influencing the empowerment of Self-kindness and Self-compassion of medical personnel in accordance with Dr. Kristin Neff's concept of self-compassion and Plum Village practices; 2) to investigate the process for empowering Self-kindness and Self-compassion according to Theravada Buddhism; and 3) to create and propose the peace innovation for empowering Self-kindness and Self-compassion of medical personnel. The study employed a mixed-method approach. The research tools included in-depth interview form, training package and the test measuring the level of Self-kindness and Self-compassion. There were 6 key informants and the experimental sample consisted of 12 medical personnel. Pre- and post-test results were analyzed by t-test and qualitative analysis.

The results showed that 1) Factor influencing Self-kindness and Self-compassion of medical personnel includes mindfulness. Plum Village's concept of mindfulness differs from Neff's in that Neff's concept emphasizes mindfulness in relation to humanness, whereas Plum Village emphasizes the mind becoming acquainted with having awareness of the present in relation to humanness, including all things around it. 2) The process for empowering Self-kindness and Self-compassion according to Theravada Buddhism includes: Sati (mindfulness), Paratoghosa (hearing or learning from others), Yonisomanasikāra (correct attention), Tisikkhā (the threefold learning), and Saṅgahavatthu (four bases of social solidarity); 3) For creating and proposing the peace innovation for empowering Self-kindness and Self-compassion of medical personnel is through the use of an online meditation course consisting of 4 modules of self-awareness strengthen practice. The results of the study discovered that the Self-compassion-score and Self-kindness-score of the participants after the training was significantly higher than before training (P<0.05.A new body of knowledge was created, which is “the CHRYSANTHEMUM⁺” Model.