Targeting the Health Care Provider (HCP) Burnout Crisis During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Duke University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Burnout, Professional; Stress, Psychological

Treatments: Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04632368

Pro00106191

Details and patient eligibility

About

This single blind, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) evaluates, a nonpharmacological intervention, TM (Transcendental Meditation) for improving burnout (, as measured by self-reporting (survey), physiologic, and neuro-functional imaging studies in health care providers (HCPs) when practiced over 3 months' time. The investigators define HCPs as any physician, physician trainee, nurse, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or respiratory therapist.

HCPs will be screened by a single-item stress scale and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS) to understand their stress level and exclusion criteria respectively. The Global Severity Index of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)-18 Global Severity score will be used as the primary outcome for pre- and post-TM training (baseline, 1 vs. 3 months). In addition, the investigators will evaluate physiological markers of stress and cardiovascular resiliency such as 1) changes (pre/post-treatment) in heart rate variability (HRV) through wearables, 2) Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) - changes in sweat gland activity that result from changes in an emotional state. fMRI will be performed by the Duke Brain Imaging and Analysis Center (BIAC) on a subset of participants to evaluate changes A specifically developed mobile app will aid data collection as well as reminders for providers to aid compliance for meditation

Full description

OVERALL HYPOTHESIS: HCPs who learn and practice TM will demonstrate significantly improved symptoms of burnout within 3 months, as measured by self-report (survey), physiologic, and neuro-functional imaging studies.

SPECIFIC AIM 1: To conduct a single-blind, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) of TM (N=40) vs. Control (CTL, N=40) in frontline HCPs. HCPs will be screened by a single-item stress scale and Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (CSSRS). The Global Severity Index of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI)-18 Global Severity score will be used as the primary outcome for pre- and post-TM training (baseline, 1 vs. 3 months). SPECIFIC AIM 2: Evaluate changes (pre/post-treatment) in heart rate variability (HRV), a physiological measure of stress, and overall cardiovascular resilience) in response to TM practice versus CTL. Participants will be asked to wear an Apple Watch throughout trial participation to assess changes in resting HRV during meditative practice. Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) refers to the changes in sweat gland activity that result from changes in an emotional state. A portable GSR device (e-Sense Skin Response) will be used to evaluate GSR score (baseline and 3 months). fMRI (N=20 for each group) will be performed by the Duke Brain Imaging and Analysis Center (BIAC).

fMRI Protocol: The first 20 eligible (exclusion criteria: pregnancy, claustrophobia, reluctance to participate) patients from each group will be randomly assigned to get fMRI at baseline and at the end of the study.

Enrollment: 80 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

HCPs including physicians, trainee physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, Physician Assistants, and respiratory therapists providing patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• A single-item stress scale will be used as a screen for eligibility; a minimum score of 6 on a 10-point response scale will be needed to meet inclusion criteria
• Subjects who have at least a 5% increase from baseline in heart rate after exposure to a personalized stressful script OR at least a 33% increase in skin conductance after exposure to the script
• Willingness to address burnout symptoms by non-pharmacological means
• All subjects must provide Informed Consent prior to enrollment in the study.
• Willingness to wear the provided Apple Watch for the data collection process

Exclusion criteria

• Antipsychotic medications or beta-blockers
• Current suicidal or homicidal ideation (suicidal ideation as screened by C-SSRI survey pre-enrollment)
• Previous instruction in TM

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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80 participants in 2 patient groups

Transcendental Meditation Intervention Arm

Active Comparator group

Description:

TM, a mind-body intervention that can reduce sympathetic arousal and promote a state of relaxation and calm, will be offered to a randomized group of eligible HCPs ( N=40)providing care during COVID-19 pandemic.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Transcendental Meditation

Treatment as usual(TAU) Control Arm

No Intervention group

Description:

Control group consists of eligible HCPs who are randomized to control group(N=40) and would not receive any intervention. At the end of 3 month study period, control group participants would be eligible for TM training.