Digital Well-Being Program for Healthcare Workers' Mental Health

(Thrive Trial)

Overseen By Lauren Southwick, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania

Disqualifiers: Under 18, No phone access, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a digital well-being program designed to help doctors manage stress, depression, and anxiety while improving job satisfaction during the pandemic. The study compares two groups: one receiving standard care and the other receiving additional support, such as text message reminders and peer group sessions, as part of the Comprehensive Well-Being Intervention. Doctors at Penn Medicine who use their phones daily and are interested in participating for 18 months make good candidates for this trial. Participants will complete surveys to determine if the new program makes a difference over time. The goal is to foster a supportive culture for healthcare workers' mental health. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative solutions for healthcare workers' mental well-being.

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 prior data suggests that this digital well-being program is safe for healthcare workers?

Research has shown that digital well-being programs for healthcare workers are generally safe. Studies have found that these programs can improve mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and burnout. Participants in similar programs reported feeling better overall, with fewer signs of depression and anxiety.

The studies did not mention any serious side effects, suggesting that most people handle the treatment well. Digital programs are often tailored to fit individual needs, enhancing their effectiveness and safety. For those considering joining a trial like this, evidence suggests it is a safe way to improve mental well-being. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Comprehensive Well-Being Intervention for healthcare workers' mental health because it offers a proactive, structured approach compared to the usual self-directed resources. Unlike traditional methods that require individuals to seek out and initiate their own mental health support, this intervention provides regular engagement through monthly text reminders and quarterly peer support groups. It also covers a wide range of topics like mindfulness, stress management, and diversity, which can address various aspects of mental health and resilience. This approach not only makes accessing support easier but also fosters a sense of community and shared experience among participants.

What evidence suggests that this digital well-being program is effective for healthcare workers' mental health?

Research shows that programs aimed at improving workplace conditions can greatly enhance the well-being of healthcare workers. These programs reduce stress and anxiety, increase job satisfaction, and boost resilience. For instance, one review found that such workplace programs improved workers' job performance and overall health. Another study showed that these programs reduced stress in 24% of cases and anxiety in 17% of cases. Additionally, programs that encourage resilience and passion for work consistently have a positive effect on mental well-being. In this trial, participants in the Comprehensive Well-Being Intervention arm will receive an 18-month suite of services designed to support mental health, suggesting that this approach could effectively support doctors' mental health. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for physicians at Penn Medicine who are over 18, willing to join an 18-month study with regular surveys, and have daily access to a phone capable of texting. It's not open to those under 18 or anyone unwilling to consent or without the necessary phone access.

Inclusion Criteria

Identify as a Physician at Penn Medicine

I am willing to participate in an 18-month study and complete surveys regularly.

Regular, daily access to a phone with texting capabilities

Exclusion Criteria

No access to a phone with texting capabilities

Not a Physician at Penn Medicine

I am unwilling to sign a consent form for an 18-month study.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete an ICF and baseline survey, including validated measures on well-being, depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and job satisfaction

1 week

1 visit (virtual)

Intervention

Participants receive a comprehensive well-being intervention including monthly automated text messaging and quarterly peer support groups

18 months

Quarterly peer support group sessions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for the persistence of effects on well-being, depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and job satisfaction

12 months

Regular assessments every 3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Comprehensive Well-Being Intervention

Trial Overview The trial tests a digital well-being program aimed at improving mental health and job satisfaction among doctors during COVID. It involves interviews, text messages, resource support, and peer groups compared against usual care in a randomized controlled setup.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Comprehensive Well-Being Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be asked to complete an ICF and baseline survey at enrollment. Participants will complete a full assessment using validated instruments at enrollment, 18 months and 30 months (depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and job satisfaction). Participants will also complete the brief well-being index (WBI, nine questions) every 3 months over 30 months. The primary endpoint is assessed at 18 months. A secondary endpoint of persistence of effect is measured at 30 months. The intervention group will receive an 18-month comprehensive suite of services including: 1) monthly automated text messaging reminders about wellbeing resources focused on a range of topics (e.g. mindfulness, stress management, childcare support, racial trauma, diversity and inclusion) and assignment to a one-hour quarterly peer support group with an expectation of regular attendance. Half of these sessions will be self-directed discussion topics and half will be facilitated discussions.

Group II: Usual Care Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will be asked to complete an ICF and baseline survey at enrollment. They will be given survey assessments at 0, 18 and 30 months. Survey assessments will include validated measures on well-being, depression, anxiety, stress, resilience, and job satisfaction of physicians. The control group will have access to usual care well-being resources at Penn Medicine. These include links, classes, groups, social media sites such as Penn Cobalt which require self-awareness to find the resources and access them. In this context, the individual has to "pull" the resources they need and there may be several barriers to completing each step

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pennsylvania

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,118

Recruited

45,270,000+

Pennsylvania Department of Health

Collaborator

Trials

42

Recruited

999,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A digital learning package was developed to support the psychological wellbeing of UK healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was accessed over 17,600 times within a week of its release, indicating high demand and relevance.

The package, created through a rapid three-step process involving public input and expert review, provided evidence-based guidance on self-care, managing emotions, and creating psychologically safe work environments, and was positively evaluated for its usability and practical application.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mitigating the Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers: A Digital Learning Package. Blake, H., Bermingham, F., Johnson, G., et al.[2023]

Three web-based interventions—Three Good Things, Gratitude Letter, and Looking Forward Tool—were tested in three studies involving a total of 521 healthcare workers, showing significant improvements in emotional exhaustion, depression, happiness, work-life balance, and emotional recovery after the interventions.

Despite some exceptions in long-term effects, these brief and engaging tools demonstrate promise in alleviating burnout among healthcare workers, highlighting the potential for simple self-care strategies to enhance well-being in this high-stress profession.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Three Good Tools: Positively reflecting backwards and forwards is associated with robust improvements in well-being across three distinct interventions. Adair, KC., Kennedy, LA., Sexton, JB.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12572811/

Effectiveness of organization-directed interventions on ... This review is a comprehensive overview of organization-directed interventions to improve healthcare professionals' well-being. Within this ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10298158/

Effectiveness of Workplace Interventions to Improve Health ... The review found that several workplace interventions were effective in improving work ability, well-being, perceived general health, work performance, and job ...

3. ajph.aphapublications.org ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307556

Addressing Health Care Workers' Mental Health: A Systematic ... Multiple interventions significantly reduced stress (n = 29; 24%), anxiety (n = 20; 17%), emotional exhaustion or compassion fatigue (n = 16; 14 ...

4. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2823752

Well-Being Outcomes of Health Care Workers After a 5 ... The findings of this trial suggest that WELL-B is a brief, evidence-based continuing education intervention that may improve health care worker-well-being.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666142X24000699

Interventions to promote resilience and passion for work in ... Of the studies reporting qualitative data, all reported a positive impact of the intervention on resilience and psychological well-being. Conclusions. Overall, ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10916736/

Addressing Health Care Workers' Mental Health: A Systematic ... Multiple interventions significantly reduced stress (n = 29; 24%), anxiety (n = 20; 17%), emotional exhaustion or compassion fatigue (n = 16; 14%), burnout (n = ...

7. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1519670/full

Digital resilience interventions for healthcare workers Generally, they aimed to enhance resilience and address symptoms like stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, and improve overall well-being. Participants were ...

8. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(25)00429-8/fulltext

Effectiveness of organization-directed interventions on ... This review is a comprehensive overview of organization-directed interventions to improve healthcare professionals' well-being. Within this ...

9. mental.jmir.org mental.jmir.org/2025/1/e67785

Effectiveness of Digital Mental Health Interventions in the ... Personalization of digital interventions was found to be effective in improving employee mental health and well-being. Consider ...