ICU clinician burnout before and during a tele-palliative-care program
Evaluation of Burnout Syndrome Among Healthcare Professionals in Intensive Care Units Within the EPIC (Enhancing Palliative Care in ICU) Research
This project will test if a tele-palliative-care program and training reduce burnout in ICU doctors, nurses, and psychologists.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Athens Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Athens) |
| Trial ID | NCT07069010 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
One hundred ICU physicians, nurses, and clinical psychologists from 28 adult units will complete an identical four-part survey twice: once during their unit's usual-care phase and again after crossover into a tele-palliative-care intervention. The questionnaire captures demographics, 22 workplace stressors and ethical dilemmas, subsets of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory, and self-compassion, with Parts A and B delivered by secure email and Parts C and D in a facilitated online session. Each administration takes about 40 minutes and produces detailed profiles of clinician well-being. Within-subject repeated-measures analyses will compare burnout and related scores before and during the EPIC tele-palliative intervention.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are ICU clinicians (physicians, nurses, clinical psychologists or advanced practice providers) employed in participating adult ICUs for at least three months who agree to complete both pre- and during-intervention surveys.
Not a fit: Clinicians on temporary assignment, those on leave during either survey period, or those who recently completed similar palliative-care training are unlikely to benefit from the intervention or its measurement.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could lower clinician burnout and moral distress, improving staff well-being and potentially patient care.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work shows palliative-care education and consultative support can reduce moral distress and burnout in some ICU settings, but stepped-wedge tele-palliative implementations like EPIC are relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * ICU clinicians (nurses, physicians, advanced practice providers) actively caring for critically ill patients * Employed in participating ICUs for ≥3 months prior to study start * Willing to complete both pre- and during-intervention surveys * Consent to participate in educational tele-palliative care trial Exclusion Criteria: * Locum tenens or temporary staff not continuously assigned to the unit * Clinicians on leave (medical, parental, or extended leave) during either survey period * Prior enrollment in similar palliative care training within past 6 months
Where this trial is running
Athens
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens — Athens, Greece (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Spyros D Mentzelopoulos, Professor
- Email: sdmentzelopoulos@yahoo.com
- Phone: +302132043308
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.