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Enrolling by Invitation

NCT Number: NCT07052357

Intern Health Study 2025

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of using a reinforcement learning algorithm to determine the optimal content of a mobile health intervention (message delivered via smartphone) for improving the mood, physical activity, and sleep of medical interns.

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Key information

Conditions

Depression - Major Depressive Disorder Behavior Mood Motor Activity Physical Activity Sleep

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48375, United States

About this study

Due to their high workloads, less sleep and physical activity and other stressors, medical interns suffer from depression at higher rates than the general population. The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a mobile health intervention intending to help prevent the degradation of health behaviors and the development of depression. The intervention sends mobile phone notifications which aim to help interns improve their mood, maintain physical activity, and obtain adequate sleep during their internship year. A reinforcement learning algorithm will use prior survey, daily mood, and wearable data to make three types of choices each day: 1) whether to send a message or not on a given day, and, if sending a message, 2) the therapeutic strategy (Behavioral Strategy, Cognitive Strategy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, Distanced Self-Talk), and 3) whether or not to include feedback (the intern's own data) in the message.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Medical intern during the 2025-2026 internship year
  • iPhone or Android phone user
  • Completed the Intern Health Study consent and baseline survey by June 20 prior to the start of intern year

Exclusion criteria

  • None

Treatment and study plan

Intern Health Study behavioral change mobile notification

Behavioral

The study's mobile app will be used to deliver push notifications. The notifications appear on the participant's phone lock screen. The notifications include 3 categories: mood notifications, activity notifications, sleep notifications. Mood notifications aim to increase the participant's mood. Activity notifications aim to increase the participant's physical activity. Sleep notifications aim to increase the participant's sleep duration. All notifications are categorized as one of five therapeutic approaches: 1) CBT-Behavioral, 2) CBT-Cognitive, 3) Distanced Self-Talk, 4) Mindfulness, 5) Motivational Interviewing.

Primary outcomes

  1. Average daily mood

    Time frame: Daily, through study completion at the end of intern year (1 year)

    Through the mobile app, participants enter a mood score (scale 1 - 10) every day of the study. 1 corresponds to lowest mood and 10 corresponds to highest mood.

  2. Average daily step count

    Time frame: Daily, through study completion at the end of intern year (1 year)

    Participant's daily step counts are recorded through a fitness tracker. High step counts are considered a positive outcome as it indicates more physical activity.

  3. Average nightly sleep duration

    Time frame: Daily, through study completion at the end of intern year (1 year)

    Participant's nightly sleep duration (in minutes) is recorded through a fitness tracker. High sleep duration is considered a positive outcome.

  4. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

    Time frame: Quarterly (every 3 months for 1 year)

    Prior to the start of the intervention and at quarterly intervals throughout internship year, all participants complete the Patient Health Questionnaire 9. High scores on the PHQ-9 correspond to a larger number of depressive symptoms.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Michigan

Other

Registry information

Acronym: (IHS 2025)

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Jul 4, 2025

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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