Wearable Tech & Feedback for Physician Burnout

Overseen By Rachel E Gonzales, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Not Penn EM, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

45 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This project seeks to develop and test provider-centered strategies that improve the detection and facilitate the treatment of physiologic and mental health symptoms in emergency medicine physicians. This will be done by investigating the feasibility and acceptability of wearable device and EMA feedback with personalized linkage to an evidence-based mental health platform at the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for emergency medicine physicians and advanced practice providers over 18, who work at least 20 hours a week in clinical care at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Participants must have daily access to a smartphone, be able to wear a wrist device, and have or create a Gmail account.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to use a wrist-worn wearable device

Emergency Medicine (EM) physician or advanced practice provider

Daily access to smart phone

Exclusion Criteria

I do not work in clinical care for 20 hours or more weekly.

Does not have or is unwilling to create a Gmail / Google account

Does not have daily access to a smart phone

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete a baseline survey measuring well-being, burnout, depression, and anxiety

1 week

1 visit (in-person or virtual)

Intervention

Intervention group receives wearable devices and bi-weekly EMA surveys; control group receives usual care

12 weeks

Bi-weekly virtual check-ins for intervention group

Follow-up

Participants complete post-surveys at 3 months and 6 months to assess mental health outcomes

12 weeks

2 visits (virtual)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Wearable Device and Ecological Momentary Assessments

Trial Overview The study is testing if using wearable devices along with real-time assessments can help spot and manage stress and mental health issues in emergency medicine staff. It aims to link them to an online mental health platform based on their feedback.

Participant Groups

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

In addition to completing 3 surveys over the course of 6 months, participants in the intervention arm will be asked to wear a wearable device (FitBit Charge 5), complete texting-based ecological momentary assessments to gauge real-time feelings of stress, and receive bi-weekly personalized data dashboards to report back their data.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants randomized to this arm will receive digital surveys over the course of 6 months (one at baseline, one at 3 months, and one at 6 months). These surveys will be the same as the intervention arm and will ask questions related to burnout, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and stress.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pennsylvania

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,118

Recruited

45,270,000+

Emergency Medicine Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

18

Recruited

2,200+