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NCT Number: NCT04276922

Creative Arts Program to Reduce Burnout in Healthcare Professionals

This study plans to learn if creative arts programs that include visual, musical, written, or physical expression can reduce symptoms of burnout syndrome, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in critical care healthcare professionals. This study also explores if creative arts can enhance the connection to the purpose of work, the development of adequate coping skills, while providing time to connect with peers.

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Key information

Conditions

Burn-Out Syndrome Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Burnout, Psychological Depression Depression, Anxiety Mental Disorders Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Stress, Psychological Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

18 year–85 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Jeffrey McKeehan, MSN

CONTACT

[email protected]

303-724-6080

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Employed as a healthcare provider, practicing primarily in a hospital setting for at least 20 hours per week.
  • Positive symptoms of burnout measured via the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI):
  • emotional exhaustion score of >17, or
  • depersonalization score of >7, or
  • personal accomplishment score of < 31.

Exclusion criteria

  • Unwillingness to participate in any of the four creative arts interventions.

Treatment and study plan

Visual Arts

Behavioral

Subjects meet for 90 minutes, once weekly, over 12 weeks for guided drawing/sketching sessions. The 12 sessions will follow a standard sequence that addresses three primary themes: creating safety, inviting vulnerability, and integrating into a transformative community.

Surveys, activity diary cards will be completed at baseline, weekly and at intervention completion to assess satisfaction, stress, and well-being. Qualitative focus groups will occur after the intervention to assess acceptability of intervention, outcomes assessments, program development and implementation.

Music

Behavioral

Subjects meet for 90 minutes, once weekly, over 12 weeks, for guided music-listening exercises (such as lyric analysis, patient-chosen, music for relaxation and/or visualization) and active music making. The 12 sessions follow a standard sequence, addressing three primary themes: creating safety, inviting vulnerability, and integrating into a transformative community.

Surveys, activity diary cards are completed at baseline, weekly and at completion to assess satisfaction, stress, and well-being. Qualitative focus groups, after the intervention, assess acceptability of intervention, outcomes, program development and implementation.

Dance/Movement

Behavioral

Subjects will meet once weekly, and begin with a movement check-in, a gentle physical warm-up, and then either a structured or improvisational movement process. for a total of 12 weeks. Each session will last 90 minutes. The 12 sessions will follow a standard sequence that addresses three primary themes: creating safety, inviting vulnerability, and integrating into a transformative community.

Surveys, activity diary cards will be completed at baseline, weekly and at intervention completion to assess satisfaction, stress, and well-being. Qualitative focus groups will occur after the intervention to assess acceptability of intervention, outcomes assessments, program development and implementation.

Writing/Poetry

Behavioral

Subjects will meet once weekly, for writing workshops to encourage participants to tell the stories they need to tell, using integral elements of good writing, for a total of 12 weeks. Each session will last 90 minutes. The 12 sessions will follow a standard sequence that addresses three primary themes: creating safety, inviting vulnerability, and integrating into a transformative community.

Surveys, activity diary cards will be completed at baseline, weekly and at intervention completion to assess satisfaction, stress, and well-being. Qualitative focus groups will occur after the intervention to assess acceptability of intervention, outcomes assessments, program development and implementation.

Control

Behavioral

Control Group will only complete surveys at baseline and 12 weeks later.

Primary outcomes

  1. Acceptability/Satisfaction of Intervention as assessed by Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ-8) scores to yield a homogeneous estimate of general satisfaction.

    Time frame: At the end of 12 week intervention

    Acceptability of intervention will be assessed using eight item Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (SCQ-8) to generate an estimate of general satisfaction. Scores range from 8-32 (higher scores = greater satisfaction).

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in subject perception of intervention process scores as assessed by Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI).

    Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks

    Emotional experience and sense of achievement using Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB), uses a 22-item survey to produce a single measure of psychological well-being.

  2. Change in subject perception of intervention process scores as assessed by Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).

    Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks

    Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) is a 20-item, self-report measure for changes in mood. Positive and negative affect (PA/NA) reflect dispositional dimensions - high-NA reflects subjective distress and unpleasable engagement, while high-PA represents pleasurable engagement, such as enthusiasm and alertness; low-PA reflects lethargy and sadness.

  3. Change in subject perception of intervention process scores as assessed by Maugeri Stress Index (MASI).

    Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks

    Maugeri Stress Index (MASI) is a self-report questionnaire. Four correlated sub scales (Wellness, Resilience, Perception of social support, and Negative coping styles). Total index is sum of responses (coded from 1 to 5). MASI-R score is expressed as a continuous variable: range: 0-100 , 50th percentile or less indicates presence of a stress condition) 118.

  4. Change in perceived occupational stress as assessed by Medical Personnel Stress Survey (MPSS-R).

    Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks

    Medical Personnel Stress Survey (MPSS-R) assesses key stressors on organizational and individual levels. Measures 4 components of occupational stress: organizational stress, job dissatisfaction, negative patient attitudes, somatic distress.

  5. Change in perceived occupational stress as assessed by Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ).

    Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks

    Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) is scored on a 4-point Likert scale, covers 3 dimensions: Psychological Demand: 9 items evaluating amount of work demanded, rapidity required, time available, and level of concentration required. Decision Latitude: 9 items evaluating decision authority, use of skills, and varied aspects of tasks. Social support: 8 items evaluating help and interest provided by colleagues and supervisors.

  6. Change in perceived occupational stress as assessed by Turnover Intention Questionnaire (TIQ).

    Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks

    Turnover Intention Questionnaire (TIQ): 6 single-choice questions asking the respondents' intention to leave. Responses scored 1-4. High scores indicate high intention level to leave the profession. Total score of turnover intention is divided into four levels: lower ≤6, low >6 and ≤12, high >12 and ≤18, higher>18.

  7. Change in level of psychological distress as measured by Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS).

    Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks

    Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) yields both a DSM-V diagnosis and symptom severity. Calculated by having a traumatic event, and a re-experiencing criterion, three avoidance symptoms, and two arousal symptoms.

  8. Change in level of psychological distress as measured by the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS).

    Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks

    The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assesses 7-item anxiety subscale and a 7-item depression subscale. A score of > 8 identifies a positive history of anxiety or depression symptoms.

  9. Change in level of Burnout as measured by Maslach Burnout Inventory.

    Time frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks.

    Maslach Burnout Inventory: Collected at baseline and post intervention.

    Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) designates positive symptoms of burnout via three areas: emotional exhaustion score of >17, depersonalization score of >7, or a personal accomplishment score of < 31.

Study contacts

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

Jeffrey McKeehan, MSN

CONTACT

[email protected]

303-724-6080

Rafaela Mantelli, BS

CONTACT

[email protected]

303-724-6377

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Colorado, Denver

Other

Collaborators

  • National Endowment for the Arts, United States

Registry information

Acronym: CORAL

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Feb 19, 2020
Registry last updated
Dec 16, 2024

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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