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NCT Number: NCT07639827

A Study of a Mental Fitness Intervention for Anesthesiology Resident Wellbeing and Self-Compassion

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if app-based wellness programs can help improve wellbeing and self-compassion for medical residents. This is a pilot study, which is done on a small group of people to learn if a larger study would be useful. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Are app-based wellness interventions feasible and acceptable in a high-stress population like medical residents? 2. Can app-based wellness programs improve wellbeing and self-compassion in medical residents?

Researchers will compare the app-based wellness program to a time- and attention-matched control program.

Participants will:

* Complete online questionnaires at the start of the study and again after completion of the wellness program * Be assigned by chance (like a coin toss) to one of two different app-based programs, and will participate in the assigned program for 6 weeks. Both programs will involve weekly lessons and brief, daily exercises. Engagement with these exercises will not be mandatory but highly encouraged.

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Key information

Conditions

Wellness Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Burnout Burnout, Psychological Depression Mental Disorders Self Compassion Stress, Psychological

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Current PGY4 anesthesiology resident at Massachusetts General Hospital or Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Willingness to provide informed consent

Resident Loved One Inclusion Criteria

  • The choice of a resident loved one will be at the discretion of the resident.
  • This may include partners, family, friends or other loved ones.
  • Only one individual per resident will be eligible to participate.
  • Residents will be eligible to participate even if no loved one is identified.

Exclusion criteria

  • Inability to complete English-language questionnaires
  • Inability to access and use the intervention components (smartphone app/web platform)
  • Age <18 years
  • Concurrent participation in another interventional study designed to target mental fitness or wellbeing

Treatment and study plan

App-based bundled mental fitness intervention

Other

A structured 6-week, self-guided program delivered via smartphone and web platform. Participants complete one video-based lesson per week and brief daily practice exercises lasting a few minutes each. The curriculum trains three core skills: recognizing recurring self-sabotaging patterns of thought and emotion; interrupting them through short attention-shifting exercises that redirect focus to present-moment sensory experience; and strengthening adaptive responses such as empathy, curiosity, perspective-taking, and decisive action. The approach draws on cognitive-behavioral, mindfulness, and positive-psychology principles, with daily repetition intended to build durable habits. Lessons build cumulatively across the six weeks. Daily and weekly engagement is encouraged but not required. Participants may optionally invite one loved one to take part alongside them.

Other names: PQ App, Wellness intervention, Mental fitness intervention, Bundled mental fitness intervention, Positive Intelligence

App-based wellness module collection

Other

A structured 6-week comparison program delivered via smartphone and web platform, matched to the experimental arm in format, duration, and time commitment. Participants complete one lesson per week and brief daily activities of a few minutes each, mirroring the cadence of the active program. Content delivers general health and lifestyle education through didactic material and light reflective prompts. Unlike the experimental program, it does not train the targeted cognitive and emotional self-regulation skills (recognizing self-sabotaging patterns, attention-shifting practice, or deliberate cultivation of adaptive responses). This holds participant time and attention constant across arms so the trial can isolate the effect of the active components. Daily and weekly engagement is encouraged but not required.

Primary outcomes

  1. Recruitment Rate

    Time frame: Enrollment

    Percentage of eligible residents who consent to participate

  2. Dyadic Enrollment Rate

    Time frame: Enrollment

    Percentage of consenting residents who enroll a loved one

  3. Retention Rate

    Time frame: At the end of the study, up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Percentage of enrolled participants who complete the post-study assessment

  4. Adherence

    Time frame: End of study up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Percent completion of weekly lessons and daily exercises

  5. Intervention Acceptability (Acceptability of Intervention Measure, AIM)

    Time frame: At the end of study up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Acceptability of the assigned program, measured with the 4-item Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM). Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree to 5 = completely agree). The mean score ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater acceptability. Administered to both arms.

  6. Intervention Appropriateness (Intervention Appropriateness Measure, IAM)

    Time frame: At the end of study up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Perceived appropriateness and fit of the assigned program, measured with the 4-item Intervention Appropriateness Measure (IAM). Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree to 5 = completely agree). The mean score ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater perceived appropriateness. Administered to both arms.

  7. Intervention Feasibility (Feasibility of Intervention Measure, FIM)

    Time frame: At the end of study up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Perceived feasibility of the assigned program, measured with the 4-item Feasibility of Intervention Measure (FIM). Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = completely disagree to 5 = completely agree). The mean score ranges from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater perceived feasibility. Administered to both arms.

  8. Net Promoter Score (NPS)

    Time frame: At the end of study up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Single-item likelihood of recommending the assigned program, rated from 0 to 10. Reported as the Net Promoter Score (percentage of promoters [9-10] minus percentage of detractors [0-6]), which ranges from -100 to +100. Administered to both arms.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Self-compassion

    Time frame: Change from enrollment to end of study up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form (SCS-SF): Score is calculated by computing the mean of the six subscale means. Minimum score 1, maximum score 5. Higher scores indicate high self-compassion.

  2. Burnout

    Time frame: Change from enrollment to end of study up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Single-item measures of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, modified from Maslach Burnout Inventory. Minimum score 0, maximum score 84. Higher scores associated with more burnout.

  3. Depressive symptoms

    Time frame: Change from enrollment to end of study up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8). Minimum score 0, maximum score 24. Higher scores associated with more depressive symptoms.

  4. Anxiety symptoms

    Time frame: Change from enrollment to end of study up to 12 weeks after enrollment

    Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7). Minimum score 0, maximum score 21. Higher scores associated with more anxiety symptoms.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, MD, MBA

CONTACT

Johanna M Lee, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

201-421-7864

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mental Fitness Intervention for Anesthesiology Resident Wellbeing and Self-Compassion

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jun 10, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 16, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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