Mental Health App for Stress Management in Healthcare Workers

(Messy-Memories Trial)

Overseen By Sheila A.M. Rauch, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Emory University

Disqualifiers: Suicide risk, No trauma, Cognitive impairment, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

53 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests the 'Messy Memories' mobile app designed to help frontline healthcare workers manage stress and improve mental health. The app provides easy access to proven strategies for dealing with stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues. The study focuses on healthcare workers at Emory, including adults aged 18-89 and potentially pregnant women.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Messy Memories App for stress management in healthcare workers?

Research on similar mental health app interventions shows they can improve anxiety and stress levels in healthcare workers. A pilot study found that a mental health app significantly reduced anxiety and acute stress disorder severity, suggesting potential benefits for the Messy Memories App. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Mental Health App for Stress Management in Healthcare Workers safe to use?

The Mental Health App, previously evaluated as the Messy Memories App, has been tested in a small study with healthcare workers and showed above-average feasibility and acceptability, indicating it is generally safe for use. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

How does the Messy Memories App treatment differ from other treatments for stress management in healthcare workers?

The Messy Memories App is unique because it is a mental health app specifically designed for healthcare workers, offering a self-management approach that is accessible and feasible for those with busy schedules. Unlike traditional therapies, it provides a digital platform that can be used anytime, making it particularly suitable for healthcare workers who may have irregular hours and limited time for in-person therapy sessions. ^{1 2 5 9 10}

Research Team

Sheila A.M. Rauch, PhD

Principal Investigator

Emory University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for male and female frontline healthcare workers aged 18-89, employed at Emory Healthcare/University. They must understand their role in the study and associated risks. Excluded are those not fluent in English, unable to consent, minors, prisoners, cognitively impaired individuals or those with decision-making impairments, people without stressful experiences, or high risk for suicide/self-harm.

Inclusion Criteria

Participants must be employed at Emory Healthcare/University

Anyone who is employed at Emory Healthcare/University is eligible to participate.

Participants must comprehend his or her role in the study and the risks involved in

Exclusion Criteria

I have difficulty making decisions due to cognitive impairment.

You have not experienced any stressful or traumatic events in your life.

I am under 18 years old.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Phase I Usability Testing

Participants test the usability of the Messy Memories app, spending approximately 2 hours on study tasks over 2 weeks.

2 weeks

Electronic contact only

Phase II Effectiveness Testing

Participants use the Messy Memories app and complete self-report measures to test its effectiveness over 16 weeks.

16 weeks

Electronic contact only

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in mental health measures such as stress, burnout, and resilience.

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Messy Memories App

Trial Overview The Messy Memories mobile app is being tested as a mental health intervention for stress-related issues among healthcare workers. The app incorporates practices proven effective in managing stress and aims to provide accessible mental health support through technology.

Participant Groups

Group I: Messy Memories App Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Subjects will download and have access to the Messy Memories application in addition to completing self-report measures electronically at pre-determined time points. While the subject uses the app, the participant will input information related to their mood over the past few days (affect rating sliders), their level of distress before and after the memory processing, answers to questions about revisiting the memory, answers to questions in the social connection and self-care modules including assessment of, for example, sleep pattern, eating habits, and exercise habits. The Messy Memories app will also collect data on how frequently and for how long each participant uses the app. Each response will trigger a prompt within the app, and will be recorded with a timestamp (date and time) to indicate when the participant provided a particular response. For all participants, self-report measures will be collected at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16.

Group II: Treatment as usual (TAU) Group Active Control 1 Intervention

Subjects will not receive any study treatments or have access to the app but may seek standard treatment if they choose, in addition to completing self-report measures. For 8 weeks, TAU group will participate in the study under treatment as usual. For weeks 9-16, the TAU group will then switch and have full access to the Messy Memories App to review and use for a limited amount of time. Subjects will download and have access to the Messy Memories application in addition to completing self-report measures electronically at pre-determined time points. While the subject uses the app, the participant will input information related to their mood over the past few days, their level of distress before and after the memory processing, answers to questions about revisiting the memory, answers to questions in the social connection and self-care modules including assessment of, for example, sleep pattern, eating habits, and exercise habits.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Emory University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

Findings from Research

The fitcor intervention is a novel internet and app-based program designed to help healthcare workers manage stress, addressing a critical gap in traditional stress reduction methods that often fail to reach this population due to their demanding schedules.

This randomized controlled trial will involve over 800 healthcare workers across various settings in Germany, assessing the effectiveness of the intervention through multiple measurement points, including psychological and physiological indicators of stress.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

mHealth interventions to reduce stress in healthcare workers (fitcor): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Baumann, H., Heuel, L., Bischoff, LL., et al.[2023]

The WISER intervention significantly reduced burnout among healthcare workers, with a decrease of 5.27 points compared to a control group, indicating its efficacy in improving well-being.

Improvements in burnout, depression, and work-life integration were observed at both 1-month and 6-month follow-ups, suggesting that the benefits of the WISER program are durable over time.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized controlled trial of the "WISER" intervention to reduce healthcare worker burnout. Profit, J., Adair, KC., Cui, X., et al.[2023]

The pilot study involving 40 healthcare professionals demonstrated that using the MUSE-S™ wearable brain sensing device for guided mindfulness significantly reduced stress and improved resilience, quality of life, and cognition over 90 days.

Participants reported high adherence to the device, using it an average of 23.8 times in 30 days, with no adverse effects noted, indicating that the device is safe and well-accepted among users.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness Using a Wearable Brain Sensing Device for Health Care Professionals During a Pandemic: A Pilot Program. Ghosh, K., Nanda, S., Hurt, RT., et al.[2023]

References

1. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a mental health self-management app in clinicians working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot randomised controlled trial. [2023]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

mHealth interventions to reduce stress in healthcare workers (fitcor): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. [2023]

3. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reductions in anxiety, depression and insomnia in health care workers using a non-pharmaceutical intervention. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Randomized controlled trial of the "WISER" intervention to reduce healthcare worker burnout. [2023]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness and implementation of an online intervention (MINDxYOU) for reducing stress and promote mental health among healthcare workers in Spain: a study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Electronic Health Record-Related Stress Among Nurses: Determinants and Solutions. [2021]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preventing occupational stress in healthcare workers. [2022]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tailoring EHRs for Specific Working Environments Improves Work Well-Being of Physicians. [2020]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mindfulness Using a Wearable Brain Sensing Device for Health Care Professionals During a Pandemic: A Pilot Program. [2023]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preliminary effectiveness of an evidence-based mobile application to promote resilience among working adults in Singapore and Hong Kong: Intensive longitudinal study. [2023]