Mindfulness Training for Physician Burnout

Overseen By Judson Brewer, PhD, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: Brown University

Must not be taking: Psychotropic medications

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

100 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests the effectiveness of an app-based mindfulness program in reducing burnout among doctors. It examines whether using the app alone or with additional online live training helps doctors feel less stressed and more supported. The study includes different groups: one uses the app immediately, another starts later, and some receive extra online training. It seeks physicians who provide direct patient care and can speak English. As a Phase 2 trial, this research measures the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, offering participants a chance to contribute to innovative stress-reduction solutions.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

If you are taking psychotropic medication (drugs that affect your mood, thoughts, or behavior), you need to be on a stable dosage for at least 6 weeks before joining the trial.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that mindfulness training delivered through apps is generally easy to use. Studies have found that this training can help reduce burnout in healthcare workers by lowering emotional exhaustion and improving mood and stress levels. No significant evidence indicates major negative side effects from using these mindfulness apps.

For online virtual training, research suggests that virtual coaching for doctors can also help reduce burnout. This approach can boost job satisfaction and increase self-kindness. Again, reports of serious negative effects are absent, making it a safe choice for participants.

Both methods have been studied enough to demonstrate their safety and effectiveness in reducing burnout without causing harm. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about app-delivered mindfulness training for physician burnout because it offers a convenient, on-the-go solution that can fit seamlessly into a busy medical professional's life. Unlike traditional in-person therapy sessions, this app allows users to engage in mindfulness exercises anytime and anywhere, making it more accessible and flexible. Additionally, the virtual training component provides further personalized support, which can enhance the app's effectiveness. This innovative approach targets the mental well-being of physicians in a way that's both practical and adaptable, potentially leading to significant improvements in their work-life balance and overall mental health.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing physician burnout?

Research has shown that mindfulness training can significantly reduce burnout in doctors. In this trial, participants may receive either app-delivered mindfulness training or online virtual training. Studies have found that mindfulness programs delivered through apps can lower emotional exhaustion and boost mood among healthcare workers. Specifically, one study found that doctors using a mindfulness app felt less disconnected from themselves and managed stress better. Additionally, online mindfulness training has successfully reduced stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression. These findings suggest that both app-based and online mindfulness training can effectively combat burnout in doctors. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Lia Antico, PhD

Principal Investigator

Brown University

Joseph Casamassima, MSc

Principal Investigator

Brown University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking physicians over 18 years old who provide direct patient care and are not on unstable doses of psychotropic medication. It aims to help doctors dealing with job-related burnout.

Inclusion Criteria

Being a physician

Direct patient care

Exclusion Criteria

My psychotropic medication dose has been stable for less than 6 weeks.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Early App-Delivered Mindfulness Training

Participants utilize the app designed to reduce burnout for 2 weeks

2 weeks

Virtual app usage

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes such as emotional exhaustion, anxiety, and depression

3 months

Data collection at baseline, 2 weeks, and 3 months

Online Virtual Training

A sub-group of participants receive additional virtual online training

1 month

Virtual training sessions

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• App-Delivered Mindfulness Training
• Online Virtual Training

Trial Overview The study tests an app-based mindfulness training program against a control group with no app. Additionally, it examines if online live training can enhance the program's effectiveness and create a support network among physicians.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Later App-Delivered Mindfulness Training (MT). Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will receive the intervention after the three-month follow-up, not before.

Group II: Experimental: Online Virtual Training Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

A sub-group of participants will receive the virtual online training after three-month follow-up or directly after the app-based intervention.

Group III: Experimental: Early App-Delivered Mindfulness Training (MT). Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be asked to utilize the app designed to reduce burnout for 2 weeks

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Brown University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

480

Recruited

724,000+

Citations

1. formative.jmir.org formative.jmir.org/2025/1/e63197

Digital Mindfulness Training for Burnout Reduction in Physicians This study aimed to design a short and pragmatic digital MT program with input from clinicians specifically to address burnout and to test its efficacy in ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8564666/

Impact of App-Delivered Mindfulness Meditation on Functional ... This study aims to examine the impact of app-delivered mindfulness meditation on self-reported mental health symptoms among PA students.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11806274/

Digital Mindfulness Training for Burnout Reduction in ... This study aimed to design a short and pragmatic digital MT program with input from clinicians specifically to address burnout and to test its efficacy in ...

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.956651/full

The impact of mindfulness practice on physician burnout Mindfulness practice decreased emotional exhaustion and depersonalization while improving mood, responses to stress, and vigor.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S2291522220002594

Physician Anxiety and Burnout: Symptom Correlates and a ... The aims of this study are to assess whether app-based mindfulness training can reduce anxiety in physicians and to explore if anxiety and ...

6. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S2561326X21000640

Impact of App-Delivered Mindfulness Meditation on ... This study aims to examine the impact of app-delivered mindfulness meditation on self-reported mental health symptoms among PA students. A secondary aim is to ...

7. human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12960-024-00959-0

Feasibility and effectiveness of the mindfulness-based stress ... The study provided preliminary evidence that the MBSR programs might be effective in reducing healthcare providers' burnout, even during the pandemic.