Recruiting

Foundational Programs to Combat Clinician Stress

This is a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial in which clinicians from University of Pennsylvania Health Systems (UPHS) including Penn Medicine- Lancaster General Health (LGH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) are offered a well-known program to help reduce clinician burnout: Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) Breathing and Sahaj Meditation Intervention.

ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT07220421

PhaseNA

Enrollment180

SponsorLancaster General Hospital

Age25 Years

SexALL

I'm interested View official listing

Conditions studied

Burnout, Professional, Stress, Psychological, Stress, Physiological, Psychological Well-Being, Mind-Body Therapies, Work Related Stress

About this study

Interventions

Behavioral: Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) Breathing and Sahaj Meditation — The SKY intervention is comprised of a week of baseline HRV and sleep metric readings, followed by an onboarding week of 3-day, 3.5 hours/day, online SKY workshops with a live instructor (10.5 hours total), followed by weekly online follow-up sessions with a live instructor (1 hour each) for a period of 4 weeks. Clinicians also practice on their own daily for 45 minutes during these 4 weeks and wear an Oura Ring continuously. They do not have to do their daily practice on the days that they have a follow-up session. Well-being and burnout metrics will be assessed using PFI Week 1, Week 4, and Week 6. Evaluation of the impact of the program on other factors as measured by other questionnaires Week 1 and Week 6. HRV and sleep metrics will be used as a physiologic marker of well-being and will be measured continuously via Oura Ring.
Other: Health Education Program (HEP) — The HEP coaches will provide these sessions online with an initial onboarding week of 2-day, 3 hours/day online HEP workshop followed by weekly online follow up sessions for 2 hours each with a live instructor. They will also pursue 45 min of daily practice for a period of 4 weeks. They do not have to do their daily practice on the days that they have a follow-up session. Well-being and burnout metrics will be assessed using PFI Week 1, Week 4, and Week 6. Evaluation of the impact of the program on other factors as measured by other questionnaires Week 1 and Week 6. HRV and sleep metrics will be used as a physiologic marker of well-being and will be measured continuously via Oura Ring.

Primary outcomes

Evaluation of the effect of well-being foundational programs on burnout in clinicians at hospital health systems utilizing the Stanford Professional Fulfilment Index. (Assess at Baseline (week1), Midpoint (week 4), and Endpoint (week 6).)

Eligibility information

Inclusion Criteria: * 25-70 years of age, * UPHS or MGH clinician (physician, APP, CRNP, PA, psychologist), * Access to smart phone and internet, * Ability to give informed consent, * Interested in wearing an Oura ring and being part of a study to evaluate breath and meditation-derived exercises, * Willing to do relaxation exercise every day for 4 weeks. Exclusion Criteria: * Currently maintaining a regular/daily mind-body program practice (eg. meditation, yoga or breathing techniques), * Atrial fibrillation, * Pacemaker/defibrillator, * Untreated or severe obstructive sleep apnea (AHI\>=30), * History of diaphragm paralysis, * Unable or unwilling to complete the workshop, * Severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), * Severe valvular heart disease, * Prior or planned chest/abdominal or nasal/facial surgery within 6 months, * Severe psychiatric illness (e.g. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder), active substance use, seizure disorder or major somatic illness (uncontrolled hypertension, lung disease, liver disease, cancer or heart disease).

Study locations

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 United States
Princeton Medical Center / Princeton Health affiliated sites, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536 United States
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602 United States
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 United States
Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 United States
Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 United States

Before you participate: Varda Clinical is an independent discovery tool, not the study sponsor or a medical provider. Eligibility can only be determined by the official study team. Discuss potential risks and benefits with a qualified healthcare professional.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov. Record last refreshed by Varda Clinical: 2026-10-03.