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Lifestyle Coaching for Fatigue Mitigation in Emergency Medicine Residents

Lifestyle Education and Personalized Coaching for Fatigue Mitigation in Emergency Medicine Residents: A Pilot Study

Status
Withdrawn
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06015646
Enrollment
0
Registered
2023-08-29
Start date
2024-03-31
Completion date
2025-12-31
Last updated
2026-04-24

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Alertness, Lifestyle, Healthy, Self-Compassion, Self Efficacy, Shift-Work Related Sleep Disturbance, Sleepiness, Work Related Stress

Keywords

physician well-being, occupational well-being, resident well-being, physician coaching, lifestyle coaching, night shifts

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether personalized lifestyle coaching minimizes the negative impact of circadian disruption on performance and recovery in emergency medicine physician trainees during night shifts.

Detailed description

The goal of this study is to examine whether a brief personalized fatigue-mitigation lifestyle coaching (PFMLC) for emergency medicine residents on overnight shifts would minimize the negative effects of circadian rhythm disruptions on performance and recovery compared to those who receive one-time passive information on lifestyle practices.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALPersonalized lifestyle coaching and educational handout

Participants will receive a one-page educational handout on strategies to minimize fatigue at the beginning of the study. Participants will also receive a 30-minute focused, personalized lifestyle coaching within a week of the initial overnight shift. The lifestyle coach will be in close contact during the night shifts.

BEHAVIORALHandout

Participants will receive a one-page educational handout on strategies to minimize fatigue at the beginning of the study

Sponsors

Stanford University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
DOUBLE (Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

One of the two principal investigators and researchers who analyze the data will be blinded to the group assignment.

Intervention model description

The investigators will randomize the participants who have consented to participate in the study to intervention or control arms at the beginning of each of the 3-week study periods. Participants will wear a Fitbit watch for one week prior and one week after 3-4 night shifts. The baseline online survey will collect data on sex, training year, current satisfaction levels with lifestyle strategies, morning-evening chronotype, Sleep-related Impairment, and Task Load. During the nightshifts, the following outcome measures: psychomotor vigilance test, Stanford Sleepiness Scale, Task Load Index, and Noordsy-Dahle Subjective Experience Scale will be assessed during the window of circadian low (2 to 6 am) and at a time that is most convenient time for each participant. A final online survey will assess satisfaction levels with lifestyle strategies, Sleep-related Impairment, Task Load, and satisfaction and feedback about the program at the end of the study.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Stanford Health Care (SHC) Emergency Medicine residents (PGY 1 to 4) * Scheduled to work at least 3 consecutive overnight shifts at SHC Emergency Department.

Exclusion criteria

* Non-Stanford Health Care (SHC) Emergency Medicine residents * Stanford Health Care (SHC) Emergency Medicine residents who are not rotating in Stanford Emergency Medicine Department

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mean of the 3 overnight reaction time reciprocal of the psychomotor vigilance test3 night shiftsThe primary outcome of this study is psychomotor vigilance assessed by the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) measured by the PVT WorkFit iPhone app by Joggle Research by Pulsar. This test takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. The PVT is a widely used objective measure of sustained attention and reaction time, which provides valuable insights into participants' alertness and cognitive performance during different times throughout each of at least 3 consecutive night shifts. Investigators will compare the mean of the 3 overnight Mean reaction time reciprocal (lower is desirable) of the PVT tests between the control and intervention groups.
Mean of the 3 overnight number of lapses in psychomotor vigilance test3 night shiftsThe primary outcome of this study is psychomotor vigilance assessed by the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) measured by the PVT WorkFit iPhone app by Joggle Research by Pulsar. This test takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. The PVT is a widely used objective measure of sustained attention and reaction time, which provides valuable insights into participants' alertness and cognitive performance during different times throughout each of at least 3 consecutive night shifts. Investigators will compare the mean of the 3 overnight number of lapses ( lower is desirable) of the PVT test between the control and intervention groups.
Mean of the 3 overnight number of false starts in the psychomotor vigilance test3 night shiftsThe primary outcome of this study is psychomotor vigilance assessed by the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) measured by the PVT WorkFit iPhone app by Joggle Research by Pulsar. This test takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. The PVT is a widely used objective measure of sustained attention and reaction time, which provides valuable insights into participants' alertness and cognitive performance during different times throughout each of at least 3 consecutive night shifts. Investigators will compare the mean of the 3 overnight number of false starts (lower is desirable) in the PVT test between the control and intervention groups.
Mean of the 3 overnight Aggregate Scores of the psychomotor vigilance test3 night shiftsThe primary outcome of this study is psychomotor vigilance assessed by the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) measured by the PVT WorkFit iPhone app by Joggle Research by Pulsar. This test takes approximately 3 minutes to complete. The PVT is a widely used objective measure of sustained attention and reaction time, which provides valuable insights into participants' alertness and cognitive performance during different times throughout each of at least 3 consecutive night shifts. Investigators will compare the mean of the 3 overnight Aggregate Score (0 worst-100 best and derived from the number of lapses and false starts) of the PVT test between the control and intervention groups.
Mean of the 3 overnight Stanford Sleepiness Scale3 night shiftsThe Sleepiness Symptom Scale (SSS) is a validated subjective measure of sleepiness frequently used for research and clinical purposes. It evaluates sleepiness at specific moments in time using a single-item scale. Respondents select one of seven statements to indicate their level of perceived sleepiness. Score Range: The scale score ranges from 1 to 7, reflecting the varying degrees of sleepiness experienced by respondents. This test takes approximately 15 seconds to complete. Directionality: Higher scores on the SSS represent higher perceived sleepiness, while lower scores indicate increased alertness and desirable. Investigators will compare the mean of the 3 overnight SSS scores between the control and intervention groups
Mean of the 3 overnight Noordsy-Dahle Subjective Experience Scale (NDSE)3 night shiftsModified version of Noordsy-Dahle Subjective Experience Scale (NDSE) for healthy adults includes 8 sub-domains: Global well-being, Delighted 1 to Terrible 7, Lower score better Anxiety: None 1 to Extreme 7, Lower score better Depression: None 1 to Extreme 7, Lower score better Energy: Tired 1 to Energized 7, Higher score better Motivation: None 1 to Strong 7, Higher score better Clarity of thought: Clouded 1 to Totally Clear 7, Higher score better Concentration: Poor 1 to Excellent 7, Higher score better Social interest: Alone 1 to With Others 7, Higher score better This test takes approximately 90 seconds to complete. Investigators will compare the mean of the 3 overnight Noordsy-Dahle Subjective Experience Scale scores between the control and intervention groups.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mean of total sleep hours3 weeksInvestigators will compare total sleep hours per 24-hour period during a baseline week, a night float week, and a recovery week using FitBit Versa 4, between the two groups.
Mean of heartrate variability3 weeksInvestigators will compare the heart rate variability per 24-hour period during a baseline week, a night float week, and a recovery week using Fitbit Versa 4, between the two groups.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAl'ai Alvarez, MD

Stanford University

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMaryam S Makowski, PhD

Stanford University

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Apr 25, 2026