The Impact of 8 Weeks of a Digital Meditation Application on Work Stress

University of California San Francisco (UCSF)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Behavioral Symptoms; Stress, Psychological

Treatments: Behavioral: Meditation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03527303

17-23717

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to test the effects of a digital meditation intervention in a sample UCSF employees who report mild to moderate stress. We will randomize UCSF employees to either 8-weeks of a digital meditation intervention (using the commercially available application Headspace) or a waitlist control condition.

Full description

The aim of this study is to test the effects of a digital meditation intervention in a sample UCSF employees who report moderate to high stress. We will randomize UCSF employees to either 8-weeks of a digital meditation intervention (using the commercially available application Headspace) or a waitlist control condition.

Participants assigned to the intervention group will be asked to download and use the Headspace mobile application for at least 10 minutes per day for 8 weeks. All study participants will be asked to fill out short (no longer than 25 minutes) questionnaires at baseline, week 4, week 8 (post intervention), and a 4-month follow up period. Among participants who are randomized to the digital meditation intervention, they will also take part in a 1-year follow up. All activities will take place online (via computer or smartphone).

Prior to randomization, participants will go through an eligibility screening and complete the baseline questionnaire battery. The entirety of the study is digital and there are no in-person assessments. Adherence will be tracked remotely. The goal is to recruit as many as 2000 participants (1000 per condition).

Enrollment: 1,458 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

You may join if you:

• Have access to a smartphone or computer every day
• Are fluent in English
• Are a UCSF employee
• Report mild to moderate levels of stress
• Consent: demonstrate understanding of the study and willingness to participate as evidenced by voluntary informed consent and has received a signed and dated copy of the informed consent
• Are at least 18 years of age

Exclusion criteria

• You may not join if you are an experienced meditator or have participated in a formal meditation practice in the last 3 months (defined as 3 times per week or more for 10 minutes or more at each practice)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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1,458 participants in 2 patient groups

Meditation Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the intervention group will assigned to a digitally-based meditation intervention (Headspace app- Basics + Stress packs) and asked to use this for at least 10 minutes a day over the course of 8 weeks

Treatment:

Behavioral: Meditation

Waitlist Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Waitlist control group participants will continue their normal activities and not add any form of meditation during the study period.