RecruitingNot Applicable

Electrotherapy Stimulation Together With Life Coaching for the Support of Burnout Symptoms in Healthcare Workers

United States40 participantsStarted 2026-08-01

Plain-language summary

This clinical trial evaluates the effect of life coaching together with Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) as an intervention to decrease self-reported symptoms of burnout, moral distress, resilience, and employee retention in oncology healthcare workers. Burnout and moral distress are occupational hazards for oncology healthcare workers. Emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment at work are symptoms of burnout. Moral distress may be defined as knowing the right thing to do but being unable to do so based upon internal or external constraints. The device is attached to the earlobes that uses cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) at a microcurrent to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, pain, and possibly depression. Life coaching is partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential and can increase resiliency skills such as boundary setting and prioritizing, increases in self-compassion and self-care, and potentially indirectly positively impact patient care. Undergoing the use of CES via the CES device, coupled with life coaching, may help alleviate burnout symptoms and moral distress in oncology healthcare workers.

Who can participate

Age range

21 Years – 75 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 21 ≤ and ≤ 75 years old * Patient-facing healthcare workers (e.g., medical doctor, advanced practice provider, nurse) * Experiencing symptoms of burnout, as defined by a score of 1, 2, or 3 on question #2 of the Mini-Z II Survey * Working on the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus (e.g. Roswell Park, Oishei Children's Hospital, Buffalo General, etc.) * Ability to attend three (3) in-person appointments, one (1) hour in duration, at Roswell Park at week 1, week 6 and week 12 corresponding to the initial, midpoint, and final assessments * Ability to use the CES daily for an hour each day * Although the device is water-resistant, participants must agree to not use the device in the bath or shower * Ability to read and write in English * Participant has access to a computer with internet access and an email address * Ability to attend three (3) virtual 60-minute group life coaching sessions, via Zoom * Ability to complete three (3) 10-15-minute pre-recorded video assignments, which will be distributed via email (each assignment will be due by the end of the week that they are distributed) * Participant must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects who self-report as pregnant or nursing. Pregnancy be verified with a urine test for all persons of childbearin…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial combines electrotherapy stimulation with life coaching specifically for healthcare worker burnout — is this combination considered experimental enough that we'd have little safety data to go on, and how does that affect whether it might be right for me?
2The trial is listed as 'Phase NA,' which sometimes means it's an early feasibility or pilot study rather than a standard drug trial — can you help me understand what that means for how much is already known about whether this approach actually works?
3Since this trial is specifically measuring burnout and moral distress in healthcare workers, do you think my particular situation fits what researchers are trying to study, or would a more established treatment be a better first step?
4The trial involves two active components — electrotherapy stimulation and life coaching — and I'd like to ask: what does the electrotherapy stimulation actually involve, and are there any risks or side effects I should be aware of before considering whether to discuss enrollment with you?
5Given that this trial is actively recruiting right now, what would the time commitment look like in terms of sessions or visits, and is that something you think would realistically fit into my current situation as a healthcare worker already dealing with burnout?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Symptoms of burnout in healthcare workers (HCWs)

Timeframe: At baseline, 6 weeks, and 13 weeks

Symptoms of moral distress in HCWs

Timeframe: At baseline, 6 weeks, and 13 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06977503

SponsorRoswell Park Cancer Institute

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-10-15

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Psychiatric Disorder trials