Continuous Heart Rate Variability Monitoring in Doctors; Understanding Patterns of Stress and Recovery and Their Relationship With Self-reported Resilience, Burnout and Wellbeing.

NCT06721312 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2-015-24
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Burnout is an increasing concern in the medical professions. This study aims to utilise established, validated self-report measures combined with continuous heart rate variability measurements to better understand the stress and recovery patterns experienced by doctors that may contribute to burnout. This mixed methods study design will consist of an ecological momentary assessment phase where participants will complete commonly used and validated real-time subjective measures while concurrently wearing a heart rate variability monitor to provide an objective measure of stress. Following on from this, participants of interest will be invited to participate in semi structured interviews to further explore their experiences of stress and recovery.

Conditions

Burnout; Burnout Syndrome; Occupational Stress; Stress

Keywords

Heart rate variability; HRV; occupational stress; resilience; fatigue; wellbeing; stress; burnout

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Heart rate variability

  Continuous heart rate variability over 7 day study period

  7 days

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Burnout

  Measured on day 1

• Resilience

  Measured on day 1

• Wellbeing

  Measured on day 1

• EMA Measures

  8 times/day for 7 days

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Medical Doctors working within NHS Grampian

You may qualify if:

• Working within NHS Grampian
• Access to a smartphone

You may not qualify if:

• Cardiac arrhythmias/endocrine disease.
• Prescription beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, benzodiazepines, antidepressants and antianxiety medications.
• Insufficient non-working time prior to study commencement.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Aberdeen: lead

Study Sites (1)

NHS Grampian

Aberdeen, AB25 2ZN, United Kingdom

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Kane L, Ball D, Martin KR, Powell D. Continuous heart rate variability monitoring-understanding patterns of stress and recovery and their relationship with self-reported burnout, resilience and well-being in doctors: a protocol for a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study. BMJ Open. 2025 Jun 8;15(6):e097849. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-097849.

  PMID: 40484420 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Psychological; Occupational Stress; Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Occupational Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Central Study Contacts

Leia M Kane, BSc (hons), MBChB, FRCEM

CONTACT

07903669881; leia.kane@abdn.ac.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 3, 2024
• First Posted: December 6, 2024
• Study Start: December 9, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2025
• Study Completion: October 31, 2025
• Last Updated: December 11, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)