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Repetitive negative thinking (RNT) has been identified as a transdiagnostic process that may sustain burnout symptoms in healthcare professionals. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a brief, three-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) protocol focused on RNT, delivered individually via videoconference, in healthcare professionals experiencing burnout. A randomized nonconcurrent multiple-baseline single-case experimental design across participants was employed, with baseline durations randomly assigned and a four-week follow-up phase. Three female healthcare professionals (aged 22-26 years) completed the intervention. Burnout symptoms, RNT, work-related psychological flexibility, valued actions, and emotional symptoms were assessed through daily ecological momentary measures and weekly self-report instruments, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey, the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire, and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. Data were analyzed through visual inspection, the Tau-U nonparametric statistic, and a design-comparable standardized mean difference. Daily and weekly assessments showed slight discrepancies in some variables, particularly for one participant;
however, clinically relevant improvements were observed across all participants, including reductions in emotional exhaustion, cynicism, RNT, and emotional distress. Effect sizes were large for burnout symptoms, RNT, and emotional symptoms. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a brief RNT-focused ACT protocol in reducing burnout-related symptoms among healthcare professionals.
