Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the degree of burnout and consequential negative psychological effects experienced by healthcare providers has been substantially exacerbated. Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback has long been used to assist with a wide variety of stress-related concerns. Building on evidence that HRV biofeedback has the potential to improve wellbeing, the purpose of this study is to pilot test and determine the feasibility of implementing a digital HRV biofeedback tool to improve disordered eating, mindful self-care (i.e., self-compassion, body appreciation, etc.), and perceived stress in healthcare providers. In addition to assessing acceptability and feasibility of the HRV biofeedback tool, the investigators will aim to establish 'proof-of-concept' for a conceptual model consisting of potential psychological constructs underlying the mechanisms of change for the intervention-namely mind-body awareness (i.e., interoception) and resilience. Our primary recruitment pool will include healthcare providers who reported elevated eating distress as a participant in an ongoing observational study of the health effects of theCOVID-19 pandemic on essential workers (CHAMPS).


Clinical Trial Description

Previous research suggests healthcare professionals may be a population at high-risk for disordered eating. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the degree of burnout and consequential negative psychological effects experienced by healthcare providers has been substantially exacerbated. In fact, in an ongoing study of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the investigators found over a third of nursing professionals endorsed clinically significant disordered eating. With the clear evidence showing a psychological toll of the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers globally, addressing their wellbeing with feasible at-home interventions is a priority. Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback has long been used to assist with a wide variety of stress-related concerns, including depression and anxiety (Lehrer et al., 2020), both conditions that commonly co-occur with disordered eating. Research suggests interoception (i.e., the capacity to detect and respond to signals from the body), is disrupted in those with eating disorders (Martin et al., 2019). While there is relatively sparse evidence on the relationship between HRV and interoception (Pinna & Edwards, 2020), it is theoretically plausible that superior interoception would predict improved vagal tone (i.e., parasympathetic activity) as measured by HRV. Moreover, data on HRV and disordered eating is mixed, and poorly understood (Watford et al., 2020). The present research seeks to begin addressing this gap in knowledge through a pilot feasibility study designed to initiate proof-of-concept for the development of a conceptual model. Specifically, the study aims to: 1. assess the feasibility of implementing a digitally based HRV biofeedback protocol 2. assess the acceptability and usability of HRV biofeedback in healthcare providers with elevated disordered eating 3. examine signals of efficacy to begin building a conceptual model of the potential mechanisms underlying change in outcomes 4. test whether there is a relationship between intervention engagement/adherence and change in outcomes. Participants will be recruited from a registry of healthcare providers enrolled in an ongoing study of the health effects of working during the COVID-19 pandemic (unless recruitment goals are not met using this method). This single arm feasibility pilot will provide the data to help determine the acceptability of using a smartphone based HRV biofeedback training tool as an intervention for this population and guide the refinement of the conceptual model being developed. By establishing feasibility and proof-of-concept, the study will build upon a limited body of work and establish an important first step towards understanding intervention dosing and signals of efficacy for aiding with disordered eating and related mind-body factors in this population. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT04921228
Study type Interventional
Source Villanova University
Contact
Status Completed
Phase N/A
Start date November 8, 2021
Completion date April 10, 2022

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Completed NCT05130944 - Feasibility of Community Psychosocial Intervention for Women N/A
Recruiting NCT06079853 - Nurse Suicide: Physiologic Sleep Health Promotion Trial N/A
Completed NCT05881681 - A Mindfulness Approach to UA for Afro-descendants N/A
Recruiting NCT05449002 - Digital Single Session Intervention for Youth Mental Health N/A
Recruiting NCT04038190 - A Behavioral Activation Intervention Administered in a College Freshman Orientation Course Phase 2
Completed NCT03931772 - Online Automated Self-Hypnosis Program N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT05998161 - Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Digital Therapeutic (Reviga) for People With Stress or Burnout N/A
Completed NCT03728062 - Mindfulness Meditation Versus Physical Exercise: Comparing Effects on Stress and Immunocompetence N/A
Terminated NCT04367636 - The Effects of Attention Training on Emotion Regulation and Stress Related Complaints During COVID-19 N/A
Completed NCT06405789 - The Effect of Yoga on Mindfulness and Perceived Stress N/A
Recruiting NCT06002074 - SMART Program Impact on Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases N/A
Recruiting NCT05273996 - Predictors of Cognitive Outcomes in Geriatric Depression Phase 4
Completed NCT05245409 - Stress, EEG, ECG, and Chiropractic N/A
Completed NCT04722367 - Being Present With Art: The Impact of Mindful Engagement With Art on Awareness and Connection N/A
Recruiting NCT06273228 - Parenting Young Children in Pediatrics N/A
Completed NCT06057883 - Effects Of A Probiotic Formulation On Stress and Skin Health in Younger Adult Females Phase 2
Completed NCT05063305 - Probiotics, Immunity, Stress, and QofL N/A
Completed NCT05312749 - The Effect of Web Based Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercise on Clinical Stress and Anxiety of Nursing Students N/A
Completed NCT05623826 - Feasibility and Efficacy of a Digital Training Intervention to Increase Reward Sensitivity- Imager N/A
Completed NCT04013451 - The Kiss of Kindness Study II N/A