829 Participants Needed

Well-Being Training for Educator Stress

MH
SJ
JS
Overseen ByJane Sachs
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the four-week Healthy Minds Program (HMP) app Foundations training in employees of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Louisville, KY. The study will enroll 1300 JCPS employees. After completing the baseline assessment, participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention (i.e., the Healthy Minds Program App) or to a "Choice" control condition. HMP assigned participants will receive instructions and support in downloading and activating the app. Choice assigned participants will receive a list of resources that are focused on the science of well-being and happiness consisting of TED talk videos and books. 10 copies of each suggested book will be available for participants to check out. TED talk video links will be provided and are free to watch. Each week during the 4-week intervention period, participants in both conditions will complete the same weekly set of measures. Within two-weeks following the end of the intervention period, all participants will complete the post-test assessment. Approximately five to six months following post-test, participants will complete the follow-up assessment. In addition to study team collected data, the research team will receive from the district multiple years of student records (e.g., standardized assessments, attendance, disciplinary referrals) linked to teachers (teachers only, not other categories of employees who choose to participate). The researchers predict that participants assigned to the intervention will demonstrate significantly reduced anxiety and depressive symptoms and significantly improved well-being after the intervention, and these improvements will persist at the follow-up (primary outcomes). It is hypothesized that baseline participant characteristics and early experience of the intervention will predict treatment adherence, study drop-out and outcomes, and that treatment engagement will moderate outcomes. In addition, the investigators predict that intervention period improvements on well-being skills assessed weekly will mediate long-term improvements on primary outcomes.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems unlikely that you would need to stop, as the study focuses on a well-being app and not on medication.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Healthy Minds Program Foundations Training for reducing educator stress?

Research shows that mindfulness-based programs, similar to the Healthy Minds Program, have been effective in reducing stress and improving well-being among healthcare professionals. These programs have been linked to reduced burnout, improved mental health, and enhanced job satisfaction, suggesting potential benefits for educators as well.12345

Is the Well-Being Training for Educator Stress safe for humans?

The research on the Healthy Minds Program, a similar well-being training, found no evidence of increased adverse events, suggesting it is generally safe for humans.678910

How does the Healthy Minds Program Foundations Training differ from other treatments for educator stress?

The Healthy Minds Program Foundations Training is unique because it is a smartphone-based meditation app designed to improve well-being and reduce psychological distress among educators. Unlike other treatments, it offers a scalable and accessible approach that can be used virtually, making it particularly suitable for supporting teachers during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic.78111213

Research Team

MJ

Matthew J Hirshberg

Principal Investigator

UW-Madison

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for employees of Jefferson County Public Schools who are at least 18 years old, have a smartphone or device to download apps, and some experience with meditation or yoga. It's not for anyone under 18.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 18 years old or older.
Employee of participating district/state
Smartphone or device that can download apps from Google Play or the iTunes app store

Exclusion Criteria

Previous use of the HMP app
I am under 18 years old.
Significant meditation experience: Meditation retreat experience (meditation retreat or yoga/body practice retreat with significant meditation component)
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Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete baseline assessments before randomization

1 week

Intervention

Participants engage with the Healthy Minds Program app or Choice resources for 4 weeks

4 weeks
Weekly virtual check-ins

Post-Test Assessment

Participants complete post-test assessments within two weeks following the intervention

2 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for long-term effects and complete follow-up assessments

5-6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Healthy Minds Program Foundations Training
Trial OverviewThe study tests the Healthy Minds Program app against a control group given resources on well-being. Participants will use these tools over four weeks and their mental health outcomes like anxiety and depression will be measured.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Placebo Group
Group I: Healthy Minds Program (HMP) GroupExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Participants in the experimental arm will be assigned to the Healthy Minds Program Foundations training (HMP) which consists of 30-days of didactic and experiential content in a scientifically-derived model of well-being. A second random assignment will occur among intervention participants in which participants will receive the standard Foundations training or the Foundations training plus once per day push notifications (i.e., a micro-interventions) that provide a very brief opportunity to practice with the HMP content of that day. HMP participants will not be made aware of this second assignment.
Group II: Choice GroupPlacebo Group1 Intervention
Participants assigned to the Choice group will receive a list of digital (i.e., links to TED talks) and hard-copy (i.e., books) resources that focus on the science of well-being and may support well-being. It is up to participants whether and to what extent they choose to engage with these resources. A study library with 10 copies of each recommended book will be accessible to participants should they wish to read any of the suggested books. After follow-up testing, Choice group participants will be provided free access to the HMP training.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials
1,249
Recruited
3,255,000+

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Collaborator

Trials
5
Recruited
1,900+

Findings from Research

A mindfulness-based training program called Focusing significantly reduced perceived stress among 20 healthcare workers, with stress levels decreasing from an average of 21.4 to 17.5 after the intervention (P=0.0195).
Participants reported qualitative improvements such as increased calmness, better emotional self-regulation, and enhanced coping skills, indicating that the training effectively helped them manage work-related stress.
The educational intervention "Focusing" as a strategy to stress reduction among health care workers: a pilot study in an Italian teaching hospital.Rinaldi, A., Tecchio, R., Perugino, S., et al.[2020]
A 4-day residential 'Mindful Practice' workshop for physicians significantly improved burnout symptoms, job satisfaction, and patient-centered compassionate care among 85 participants, with effect sizes ranging from 0.25 to 0.61.
The workshop also enhanced work engagement and well-being, indicating that intensive mindfulness training can positively impact clinician health and the quality of care provided, although future programs should place more emphasis on teamwork.
Effect of an Intensive Mindful Practice Workshop on Patient-Centered Compassionate Care, Clinician Well-Being, Work Engagement, and Teamwork.Epstein, RM., Marshall, F., Sanders, M., et al.[2022]
A study involving 224 teachers from high-poverty areas in New York City showed that those who participated in the Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE) program experienced significant and sustained reductions in psychological distress and physical distress related to stress, nearly one year after the intervention.
Teachers in the CARE program also reported improved emotion regulation and mindfulness, indicating that mindfulness-based interventions can have lasting positive effects on teacher well-being and potentially enhance the quality of education.
Long-term impacts of the CARE program on teachers' self-reported social and emotional competence and well-being.Jennings, PA., Doyle, S., Oh, Y., et al.[2020]

References

The educational intervention "Focusing" as a strategy to stress reduction among health care workers: a pilot study in an Italian teaching hospital. [2020]
Implementation of Mindfulness Training for Mental Health Staff: Organizational Context and Stakeholder Perspectives. [2020]
Passage meditation reduces perceived stress in health professionals: a randomized, controlled trial. [2022]
Effect of an Intensive Mindful Practice Workshop on Patient-Centered Compassionate Care, Clinician Well-Being, Work Engagement, and Teamwork. [2022]
Mindfulness-based intervention to reduce burnout and psychological distress, and improve wellbeing in psychiatry trainees: a pilot study. [2022]
Long-term impacts of the CARE program on teachers' self-reported social and emotional competence and well-being. [2020]
Mental and physical training with meditation and aerobic exercise improved mental health and well-being in teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. [2022]
A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Smartphone-Based Well-Being Training in Public School System Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic. [2023]
Impact of Mindfulness Training on the Well-Being of Educators. [2020]
Promoting educator social emotional competence, well-being, and student-educator relationships: A pilot study. [2023]
Results from a pre-post, uncontrolled pilot study of a mindfulness-based program for early elementary school teachers. [2020]
12.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
MINDFULNESS GOES TO SCHOOL: THINGS LEARNED (SO FAR) FROM RESEARCH AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES. [2019]
13.United Statespubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Evaluation of a seven-week web-based happiness training to improve psychological well-being, reduce stress, and enhance mindfulness and flourishing: a randomized controlled occupational health study. [2022]