The Impact of Combined Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Nutritional Counseling on Physician Burnout
NCT ID: NCT04336436
Last Updated: 2024-12-31
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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COMPLETED
NA
15 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2019-12-20
2020-12-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Burnout has serious negative implications on the physical health and wellbeing of individuals. In recent studies, burnout was associated with higher incidence of coronary heart disease and hospitalization from cardiovascular causes. Additionally, burnout was found to be an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol ≥220 mg/dl). Higher incidence of musculoskeletal pain and pain-related disability were also reported amongst subjects with high burnout. Excessive fatigue, insomnia, headaches, gastrointestinal and respiratory issues were all positively correlated with burnout level. More strikingly, burnout was found to be a significant predictor of mortality in those below the age of 45-years.
Burnout carries its repercussions on mental health as well. In a study of 2,555 dentists, burnout was a significant predictor of depression occurrence during the 3-year follow-up period. Increased psychotropic and antidepressant use was associated with high burnout, with a stronger correlation observed for men than women. High level of burnout was also linked to increased risk of anxiety, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, and even suicidal ideation.
Burnout is a serious threat to the medical profession at large. With more than half of the US physicians suffering from professional burnout, its implications ripple through the entirety of the healthcare system. Burnout decreases both patient care quality and physician productivity. Increased sickness absences have been reported in high burnout. In a recent report, severe burnout independently accounted for 52 sickness absences in a 2-year follow-up period. Additionally, burnout has resulted in more physicians leaving practices or reducing their work hours. A healthcare system loses on average $500,000 to $1,000,000 with the departure of a physician, in addition to the ever-increasing workload of physicians who remain in practice. Most significant of all, burnout leads to major medical errors. With the estimated 250,000 deaths in the United States occurring due to medical errors, developing effective strategies to eliminate physician burnout has become an ever-present priority.
A number of prospective studies and clinical trials have been conducted to assess the efficacy of different interventions on mitigating physician burnout. A major cluster of these studies have focused on behavioral interventions, more specifically, mindfulness-based approaches aimed at reducing the mental and emotional repercussions of burnout. Such behavioral interventions included practices of contemplation-meditation exercises, discussions on enhancing self-care and intensification of present-moment awareness. Efficacy in the latter studies was mostly assessed via quantification of change in burnout and stress-related scores, most notably the Maslach Burnout Inventory score, a well-established tool for assessment of burnout in the occupational setting. The majority of these studies reported favorable effects on burnout scores. However, limited to no-data exist on the physiological and biochemical effects of mindfulness-based interventions on physician burnout.
A second cluster of studies implemented lifestyle changes, more specifically, incentivized exercise programs and nutritional counseling for burnout. However, studies examining the effects of physical activity tended to be short in duration, of small magnitude, and lacked adequate assessment of the physiological and biochemical effects of exercise on burnout \[23\]. Additionally, a significant lack of research on nutritional and dietary interventions in physician burnout exist in the literature, despite the vitality of good nutrition in the health and wellbeing of physicians.
Therefore, this study intends to tackle the issue of physician burnout via a wide-lens approach, integrating both mindfulness-based training and nutritional counseling in the management of professional burnout. The effects of the interventions will be evaluated through assessment of changes in physiological and biochemical parameters known to be adversely affected in burnout, in addition to the standardized Professional Fulfillment Inventory, at 3-6 months post-intervention.
Conditions
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Study Design
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NA
SINGLE_GROUP
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
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Mindfulness Training and Nutrition Counseling
Baseline and 3-6 month follow up visits will be arranged for all participants.
Visits will be conducted at baseline prior to initiation of mindfulness training and nutrition counseling, and at the 3-6 month follow up. Clinical and laboratory assessments will be obtained at each visit.
Mindfulness training
Mindfulness training
Nutritional consult
Nutrition counseling and development of a personalized nutrition plan
Interventions
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Mindfulness training
Mindfulness training
Nutritional consult
Nutrition counseling and development of a personalized nutrition plan
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Located in Ohio
* Must anticipate remaining employed for at least 6 months post-enrollment
Exclusion Criteria
* Unable to commit to intervention sessions
* Current diagnosis of uncontrolled hypertension, and/or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (defined as hemoglobin A1c ≥9%)
* Current or previous history of Cushing's disease or pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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The Cleveland Clinic
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Principal Investigators
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Betul Hatipoglu, MD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Staff Physician
Locations
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Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Countries
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References
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Ahola K, Hakanen J. Job strain, burnout, and depressive symptoms: a prospective study among dentists. J Affect Disord. 2007 Dec;104(1-3):103-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2007.03.004. Epub 2007 Apr 19.
Fred HL, Scheid MS. Physician Burnout: Causes, Consequences, and (?) Cures. Tex Heart Inst J. 2018 Aug 1;45(4):198-202. doi: 10.14503/THIJ-18-6842. eCollection 2018 Aug. No abstract available.
Rothenberger DA. Physician Burnout and Well-Being: A Systematic Review and Framework for Action. Dis Colon Rectum. 2017 Jun;60(6):567-576. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000000844.
Pantenburg B, Luppa M, Konig HH, Riedel-Heller SG. Burnout among young physicians and its association with physicians' wishes to leave: results of a survey in Saxony, Germany. J Occup Med Toxicol. 2016 Jan 22;11:2. doi: 10.1186/s12995-016-0091-z. eCollection 2016.
Dyrbye L, Shanafelt T. A narrative review on burnout experienced by medical students and residents. Med Educ. 2016 Jan;50(1):132-49. doi: 10.1111/medu.12927.
Other Identifiers
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19-1378
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id