Mindfulness With Biofeedback

University of Florida

Status: Completed

Conditions: Mindfulness Training

Treatments: Other: Patient Satisfaction; Other: Questionnaires; Device: HeartMath EmWAVE Pro; Other: Sick Days; Other: Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02769403

201600018

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this research study is to determine if using HeartMath's biofeedback with emWave Pro daily mindfulness practice: is a practical and effective intervention to improve job satisfaction and performance of physicians, advance practice clinicians, and nurses; improves patient satisfaction; and affects resting blood pressure and heart rate when comparing baseline to follow-up measures.

Full description

This research study seeks to determine if using a daily mindfulness practice with EmWave Pro HeartMath helps to achieve coherence through various standardized, interactive mindfulness techniques, such as guided meditations focusing on positive emotions, breathing, and imagery. The investigators seek to determine if using HeartMath's biofeedback with emWave Pro daily mindfulness practice: is a practical and effective intervention to improve job satisfaction and performance of physicians, advance practice clinicians, and nurses; improves patient satisfaction; and affects resting blood pressure and heart rate when comparing baseline to follow-up measures.

All participants will attend a one-time one-hour training session to explain cardiac coherence and how to use emWave Pro. Participants will be randomized to be either in the treatment group or the control group. Participants will use emWave Pro for at least one 5-minute session daily, Monday through Friday. The treatment participants will use it daily for all 12 weeks. The control participants will use it daily only for weeks 7-12. The treatment group will have the added component of weekly visits during the first 6 weeks of the study from an investigator and the research coordinator. The purpose of the weekly visits is focused on reinforcing accountability and achievement of coherence.

The participants will also complete questionnaires at baseline, week 6, and week 12 about demographics, job satisfaction, and job performance. Participants' blood pressure and heart rate will be collected at those three time points. Additionally, information about participants' use of HeartMath, sick days, and patient satisfaction will be collected after week 12.

Enrollment: 18 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 89 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Individuals (physicians, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNPs) & Physician Assistants [advance practice clinicians], and nurses) working at the two research sites: Hampton Oaks and Haile Plantation at UF Health

Exclusion criteria

• Anyone not working at Hampton Oaks and Haile Plantation at UF Health

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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18 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will use HeartMath EmWave Pro for at least one 5-minute session daily, Monday through Friday. The treatment participants will use it daily for all 12 weeks, and will have the added component of weekly visits for the first 6 weeks of the study from the study team. The weekly visits is focused on reinforcing accountability and achievement of coherence. The participants will also complete questionnaires at baseline, week 6, and week 12 about demographics, job satisfaction, and job performance. Participants' blood pressure and heart rate will be collected at those three time points. Additionally, information about participants' use of HeartMath EmWave Pro, sick days, and patient satisfaction will be collected after week 12.

Treatment:

Other: Sick Days

Other: Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

Device: HeartMath EmWAVE Pro

Other: Questionnaires

Other: Patient Satisfaction

Control

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will use HeartMath EmWave Pro for at least one 5-minute session daily, Monday through Friday. The control participants will use it daily only for weeks 7-12. The participants will also complete questionnaires at baseline, week 6, and week 12 about demographics, job satisfaction, and job performance. Participants' blood pressure and heart rate will be collected at those three time points. Additionally, information about participants' use of HeartMath EmWave Pro, sick days, and patient satisfaction will be collected after week 12.

Treatment:

Other: Sick Days

Other: Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

Device: HeartMath EmWAVE Pro

Other: Questionnaires

Other: Patient Satisfaction