Meditation for Burnout in PA Students

Arizona State University (ASU)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Burnout, Student; Feasibility

Treatments: Behavioral: Calm Meditation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT04169724

STUDY00010572

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study investigates the feasibility and effects of an app-based mindfulness meditation intervention for PA students.

Full description

The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility of an app-based mindfulness meditation intervention for PA students.

The investigators will measure feasibility of using the Calm app for 10-minutes a day for four weeks in PA students. Feasibility will be measured with acceptability (i.e. satisfaction survey), demand (participation in the app as prescribed), and practicality (i.e., survey). Secondly, the investigators will determine the preliminary effects of a 4-week meditation intervention on burnout levels in PA students when compared to a wait list control group. Burnout symptoms (primary outcome), mindfulness, stress levels, and depressive symptoms (secondary outcomes) will be measured at baseline and post-intervention (4-weeks). Data gathered from this study will inform a future randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of a mindfulness meditation app on burnout in PA students. The information could also be used to design other studies assessing burnout in the workplace.

Aim 1: Determine the feasibility (acceptability, demand, practicality) of using the Calm app 10-minutes per day for four weeks in PA students. For the intervention group, our benchmarks will be as follows: 1) Acceptability (i.e., satisfaction) ≥70%, 2) Demand (i.e., participation in the app as prescribed, intention to use) ≥70%, 3) Practicality (i.e., survey) ≥70%.

Aim 2: Determine the preliminary effects of using the Calm app 10-minutes per day for four weeks on burnout (primary outcome) mindfulness, stress levels, and depressive symptoms (secondary outcomes) in PA students as compared to a wait-list control group.

Enrollment: 19 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Physician assistant students currently enrolled in school who do not practice meditation regularly
• > 18 years of age
• Able to speak/read/understand English
• Residing in the U.S.
• Regular internet access via mobile phone, tablet, etc.
• Willing to participate in app-based meditation program
• Burnout, classified as a score greater than or equal to 3 on the non-propriety single item burnout measure.

Exclusion criteria

• Physician assistant students who currently (within the last six months) practice meditation
• Professionals who identify as a practicing physician assistant
• People who are not currently enrolled in physician assistant school
• Individuals who are not burnt out, classified as a score less than or equal to 2 on the non-propriety single item burnout measure.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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19 participants in 2 patient groups

Calm

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will be asked to download the Calm app on their smartphone. Participants will then receive an email containing login credentials to access the Calm app. Once they receive this email and they receive their study start date, they will be asked to meditate for at least 10 minutes a day for 8 weeks. This prescription mimics how a new, paying member would use the app. Participants in the intervention group will be emailed weekly reminders.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Calm Meditation

Waitlist

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants randomized to the control group will be asked to maintain their normal routine for 8 weeks and to avoid using the Calm meditation app.