Strengthening health literacy and stress resilience in hospital staff using mind-body medicine and nutrition
Strengthening Psycho-physiological and Psycho-emotional Competencies in Healthcare Workers Through Mind Body Medicine and Nutrition: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This program will test whether a combined mind-body, self-care, and psycho-biotic nutrition approach can improve stress resilience and mental well-being in University Medicine Essen staff.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 252 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Universität Duisburg-Essen Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Essen) |
| Trial ID | NCT07255313 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized, controlled, participatory program will develop and test a workplace health intervention at University Medicine Essen using a steering committee of hospital staff, focus-group needs assessment, and a pilot phase to refine delivery. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive a multimodal intervention that combines mindfulness and stress-management techniques, easily applicable complementary self-care from Traditional European and Indian Medicine, and psycho-biotic nutritional guidance. The design emphasizes feasibility and acceptability in the hospital setting, with home practice and practice diaries as part of the protocol. If effective, the program is intended for integration into routine workplace health management and as a model for other healthcare institutions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are University Medicine Essen employees aged 18 or older with moderate resilience (RS-25 ≤144) who can attend sessions, practice at home, and keep a practice diary.
Not a fit: People with insufficient German, current pregnancy or breastfeeding, severe psychiatric or somatic comorbidities, planned pension applications, or concurrent participation in other intervention studies are unlikely to benefit or may be ineligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve stress resilience, reduce burnout symptoms, and be integrated into routine workplace health management at the hospital.
How similar studies have performed: Previous workplace and mind-body programs have shown promising but mixed improvements in stress and burnout, while psycho-biotic nutritional approaches are emerging and less well established.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 years and older * Employees of University Medicine Essen * Moderate resilience of ≤ 144 points on the RS-25 * Willingness to practice at home and keep a practice diary Exclusion Criteria: * Insufficient German language skills * Pregnancy and breastfeeding * Severe comorbid mental disorders (e.g., substance use disorder, major depression) or other severe comorbid somatic diseases (e.g., oncological disease without remission, severe pre-existing cardiovascular disease, organ failure, other severe neurological disorders) * Planned or ongoing pension application (e.g., disability pension, occupational disability, reduced earning capacity, severe disability) * Concurrent participation in other clinical intervention studies
Where this trial is running
Essen
- Center for Integrative Medicine and Planetary Health, University Hospital Essen — Essen, Germany (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Heidemarie Haller, PhD — University of Duisburg-Essen
- Study coordinator: Larissa Setzer
- Email: larissa.setzer@uk-essen.de
- Phone: +49 201 723-77386
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.