Use of Death Cafes to Prevent Burnout in ICU Healthcare Employees

Depression Clinical Trial

— STOPTHEBURN  

Official title:

Systematic Trial Of PrevenTing Healthcare Employee Burnout: Using Reflection & Nourishment

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04347811
• Other study ID #: 2019-908
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: July 20, 2020
• Est. completion date: December 26, 2022

Study information

• Verified date: February 2023
• Source: Tulane University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Burnout affects a significant number of healthcare employees and leads to worsened mental health, increased job turnover, and patient safety events. Those caring for critically ill patients may be especially susceptible due to high patient mortality, long hours, and regular encounters with traumatic and ethical issues. Preliminary studies suggest that debriefing opportunities may reduce burnout through reflection on distressing patient events, enhancement of social support, and interprofessional collaboration. Death Cafés are a specific form of debriefing that focus on discussing death, dying, loss, and illness.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether biweekly Death Cafe group debriefing sessions can prevent burnout in ICU physicians and staff.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 340
• Est. completion date: December 26, 2022
• Est. primary completion date: December 26, 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: N/A and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, or therapists working in the Intensive Care Unit and have worked for the full-time equivalent of at least 1 week in the preceding 4 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not physicians, nurses, pharmacists, or therapists

• Have worked less than the full-time equivalent of at least 1 week in the preceding 4 weeks

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Anxiety
• Burnout
• Burnout, Professional
• Burnout, Psychological
• Depression
• Occupational Stress

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Death Cafe
Death Cafés are a specific form of debriefing that focuses on discussing death, dying, loss, and illness. Nourishment in the form of cake is provided. These sessions may allow for reflection on distressing patient events while developing a sense of community and collaboration among hospital employees.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Children's Hospital New Orleans	New Orleans	Louisiana
United States	Ochsner Medical Center	New Orleans	Louisiana
United States	Tulane Medical Center	New Orleans	Louisiana
United States	University Medical Center	New Orleans	Louisiana

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Tulane University School of Medicine	Spirit of Charity Foundation - University Medical Center

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

References & Publications (52)

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* Note: There are 52 references in all — Click here to view all references

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Differences in Burnout as measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory Score (MBI).	This is a validated 22-item, self-reported questionnaire that asks respondents to indicate on a 7 point Likert scale the frequency of certain feelings related to their job. Presence of burnout is defined by high values of depersonalization and emotional exhaustion with low values for personal accomplishment. Changes in mean scores between groups and within groups over time will be assessed.	At the time of enrollment and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months after enrollment
Secondary	Differences in Depression as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (PHQ-8)	This is an 8 question validated questionnaire that asks respondents to indicate the frequency with which they have experienced certain symptoms consistent with depression. Higher scores mean higher frequency of depression symptoms, and a score of 10 or higher will be considered to indicate clinically significant depression. Changes in mean scores between groups and within groups over time will be assessed.	At the time of enrollment and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months after enrollment
Secondary	Differences in Anxiety as measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Scale (GAD-7)	This is a 7 question validated questionnaire that asks respondents to indicate the frequency with which they have experienced certain symptoms consistent with anxiety. Higher scores mean higher frequency of anxiety symptoms, and a score of 10 or higher will be considered to indicate clinically significant anxiety. Changes in mean scores between groups and within groups over time will be assessed.	At the time of enrollment and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months after enrollment