NCT07474766

Brief Summary

Burnout syndrome is a serious occupational health problem affecting healthcare professionals worldwide. Defined by emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and reduced personal accomplishment, its consequences span mental health (depression, anxiety, insomnia, substance use), physical health (cardiovascular problems, chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders), and professional performance (reduced quality of care, absenteeism, staff turnover). Primary care professionals are a particularly high-risk group due to sustained workload, administrative burden, and limited autonomy. Despite the availability of evidence-based interventions - including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, mindfulness, and organisational strategies - their implementation remains limited. Digital tools have shown promising results, but most mobile applications address stress generically and are costly to develop. Online communities via WhatsApp have emerged as an accessible, low-cost alternative with potential to deliver psychoeducational content and peer support effectively. BurnOutCare is a structured 9-week pilot intervention delivered via WhatsApp, led by Mental Health Nursing professionals, comprising four modules: mindfulness, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and burnout prevention. Content is shared three times per week using short texts, guided audio exercises, brief videos, interactive surveys, and infographics. A private individual channel provides personalised support. The study aims to assess the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of this approach in primary care professionals at OSI Barrualde-Galdakao (Basque Country, Spain), and to generate validated content and evidence to inform the future development of a purpose-built web/mobile health application for burnout prevention.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
31

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Apr 2025

Shorter than P25 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 10, 2025

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 10, 2025

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 5, 2025

Completed
6 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

March 8, 2026

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 16, 2026

Completed
Last Updated

April 27, 2026

Status Verified

April 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3 months

First QC Date

March 8, 2026

Last Update Submit

April 22, 2026

Conditions

Burnout, Healthcare WorkersOccupation-related Stress DisorderMental HealthEmotional Exhaustion

Keywords

BurnoutHealthcare professionalsPrimary careWhatsAppOnline communityMindfulnessEmotional regulationMobile healthPilot studyMental health nursing

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

  • Emotional Exhaustion

    Change in emotional exhaustion subscale score of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) from baseline to post-intervention. Scale range: 0-54; higher scores indicate greater emotional exhaustion.

    Baseline (pre-intervention) and Week 9 (post-intervention)

  • Perceived Stress

    Change in total score of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS, 14 items) from baseline to post-intervention. Scale range: 0-56; higher scores indicate greater perceived stress. Scores between 20-25 indicate moderate stress; scores above 25 indicate high stress.

    Baseline (pre-intervention) and Week 9 (post-intervention)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Depersonalisation

    Baseline (pre-intervention) and Week 9 (post-intervention)

  • Personal Accomplishment

    Baseline (pre-intervention) and Week 9 (post-intervention)

  • Programme Satisfaction

    Week 9 (post-intervention only)

Study Arms (1)

BurnOutCare Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Single cohort of primary care professionals who participated in a 9-week WhatsApp-based online community programme led by Mental Health Nursing professionals. The programme included four structured modules: mindfulness, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and burnout prevention. Content was shared via a WhatsApp distribution list three days per week, and a private individual support channel was available for personalised advice.

Behavioral: BurnOutCare WhatsApp Online Community

Interventions

BurnOutCare WhatsApp Online CommunityBEHAVIORAL

A 9-week structured behavioural intervention delivered via WhatsApp, comprising four evidence-based modules: (1) Mindfulness - breathing techniques, body scan, mindful observation; (2) Emotional Regulation - identification and management of emotions, cognitive restructuring; (3) Conflict Resolution - assertiveness, active listening, empathy; (4) Burnout Prevention - self-care strategies, work-life balance, recognition of burnout signs. Content formats included interactive surveys, short texts, guided audio exercises, brief videos, and infographics. An individual private channel provided personalised professional support. The programme was led by Mental Health Nursing specialists in collaboration with clinical psychology and psychiatry.

Also known as: BurnOutCare, Digital burnout prevention, WhatsApp community intervention
BurnOutCare Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 65 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Active employment within the OSI Barrualde-Galdakao (Osakidetza-Basque Health Service) at the time of the study.
  • Signed written informed consent prior to enrolment.
  • Commitment to active participation in the programme over its 9-week duration.
  • Access to a smartphone and the WhatsApp application

You may not qualify if:

  • Non-acceptance of community rules, specifically mutual respect among participants.
  • Use of the community for purposes unrelated to the programme objectives, such as self-promotion or discussion of topics unrelated to burnout prevention.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Galdakao-Usansolo University Hospital - OSI Barrualde-Galdakao

Usansolo, Bizkaia, 48960, Spain

Location

Related Publications (5)

  • Othman SY, Hassan NI, Mohamed AM. Mindfulness-based interventions in critical care nurses. BMC Nursing. 2023;22:305.

    BACKGROUND

  • Panagioti M, Panagopoulou E, Bower P, Lewith G, Kontopantelis E, Chew-Graham C, Esmail A. Controlled interventions to reduce physician burnout. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2017;177(2):195-205.

    BACKGROUND

  • Eldridge SM, Chan CL, Campbell MJ, Bond CM, Hopewell S, Thabane L, Lancaster GA. CONSORT 2010 statement: extension to randomised pilot and feasibility trials. BMJ. 2016;355:i5239.

    BACKGROUND

  • Remor E. Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). The Spanish Journal of Psychology. 2006;9(1):86-93.

    BACKGROUND

  • Maslach C, Jackson SE, Leiter MP. Maslach Burnout Inventory manual (3rd ed.). Consulting Psychologists Press; 1996.

    BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, PsychologicalPsychological Well-BeingEmotional ExhaustionEmotional Regulation

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress, PsychologicalBehavioral SymptomsBehaviorPersonal SatisfactionFatigueSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsSelf-ControlSocial Behavior

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NA
Masking
NONE
Purpose
PREVENTION
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Model Details: This is a single-group, pre-experimental pilot study with a pretest-posttest design and no control group or randomisation. All eligible volunteers were allocated to the intervention arm. The study was designed as an external pilot to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of a WhatsApp-based online community for burnout prevention in primary care professionals, prior to the development of a future definitive randomised controlled trial and a purpose-built mobile health application. The intervention consisted of a 9-week structured programme delivered via WhatsApp by Mental Health Nursing professionals, comprising four sequential evidence-based modules: mindfulness, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and burnout prevention. Content was shared three days per week via a group distribution list, supplemented by an individual private channel for personalised support.
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Mental Health Nurse (PMH, RN)

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

March 8, 2026

First Posted

March 16, 2026

Study Start

April 10, 2025

Primary Completion

July 10, 2025

Study Completion

September 5, 2025

Last Updated

April 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Individual participant data will not be shared publicly due to the small sample size of this pilot study, which could compromise participant confidentiality and anonymity. Aggregated and anonymised summary data are reported in the manuscript. Requests for additional information may be directed to the corresponding author (Juan José Pérez Moreno; JUANJOSE.PEREZMORENO@osakidetza.eus).

Locations

ES(1)