Seeing the human behind the sample: How compassion training shaped inner awareness, relationships, and workplace meaning in HIV end-of-life research

Background: Professionals engaged in HIV research at the end-of-life face ongoing emotional demands, yet there is limited evidence on whether brief compassion-based interventions can support resilience and team functioning in this context. Objective: To explore how members of the Last Gift team experienced a brief compassion training program and to examine its perceived value and acceptability within an emotionally demanding end-of-life HIV research setting. Methods: We conducted this qualitative study within the Last Gift, a rapid research autopsy program involving people with HIV and life-limiting illness at the University of California San Diego. Following completion of a four-week compassion training program, we held three focus group discussions with interdisciplinary team members (n = 10). We audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed discussions using conventional content analysis. Results: We identified three major themes: (1) intrapersonal growth and improved inner awareness when navigating emotionally intense work; (2) changes in interpersonal relationships with enhanced capacity to extend and receive compassion; and (3) strengthening community and shared purpose in workplace culture. Participants described applying compassion practices both at work and in daily life, contributing to improved interpersonal interactions, reduced emotional reactivity, and greater workplace satisfaction. Conclusions: Brief compassion training programs may offer a feasible and meaningful approach to supporting well-being, emotional resilience, and team cohesion among professionals working in end-of-life HIV research, particularly when embedded within supportive organizational contexts. Further research is needed to examine sustainability and broader implementation in palliative and end-of-life research settings.