Foundational programs to reduce clinician stress and burnout

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This randomized, controlled trial will enroll about 180 clinicians and randomize them to either a Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) plus Sahaj meditation intervention or an active Health Education Program control. SKY participants complete a 3-day online onboarding workshop (3.5 hours/day), then practice daily and attend weekly 1-hour follow-ups for four weeks while wearing an Oura Ring to capture continuous sleep and HRV data. The trial will collect psychometric measures (depression, anxiety, burnout, mindfulness), cognitive metrics, and physiological markers and compare changes between arms. Primary outcomes include changes in burnout-related psychophysiologic metrics and heart rate variability.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

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).

Where it's running

• Massachusetts General Hospital
  Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
• Princeton Medical Center / Princeton Health affiliated sites
  Plainsboro, New Jersey, United States Recruiting
• Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health
  Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
• Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
• Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting
• Pennsylvania Hospital
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Mrinalini Meesala, MD — Penn Medicine / Lancaster General Hospital
• Study coordinator: Halle Becker, MPH
• Email: Halle.Becker@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
• Phone: 7175441777

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Breathwork for older adults after knee replacement

  This study tests whether a quick, at-home breathwork activity can help adults 65 and older recover better after knee replacement surgery.

  Recruiting University of Arizona · Tucson, Arizona · NCT07464860

• Exploring the effects of Daoist standing meditation on well-being

  This study is testing whether practicing Daoist standing meditation can improve well-being and reduce stress compared to doing a simple wall squat.

  Recruiting University of North Carolina, Charlotte · Charlotte, North Carolina · NCT06573034

• Intraoperative Comfort After Cesarean with Neuraxial Anesthesia

  This study tests how patients feel during cesarean delivery with spinal or epidural anesthesia to help create a tool that captures intraoperative comfort.

  Recruiting Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital · Toronto, Ontario · NCT07867106

• Physical activity and musculoskeletal pain among lawyers

  Agroup of lawyers will be categorized by how physically active they are to see if activity levels relate to how often and where they have musculoskeletal pain and how this connects to stress and job satisfaction.

  Recruiting Suleyman Demirel University · Isparta · NCT07827937

• Human-created animated art vs AI-created art: does it change how you feel right away?

  This online trial tests whether watching a human-made animated art film or an AI-made one, or doing nothing, quickly changes mood or sense of connection in U.S. adults.

  Recruiting Stanford University · Palo Alto, California and 1 other locations · NCT07740148

• Structured Receptive Music to Help with Care During Bathing for People with Dementia

  A structured daily music program used during hygiene care is being tested to see if it reduces refusals of care by residents with dementia in French nursing homes.

  Recruiting at 6 sites Lna Sante · Amiens and 11 other locations · NCT07730957

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.