A Study of a Mental Fitness Intervention for Anesthesiology Resident Wellbeing and Self-Compassion

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mental Fitness Intervention for Anesthesiology Resident Wellbeing and Self-Compassion

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if app-based wellness programs can help improve wellbeing and self-compassion for medical residents. This is a pilot study, which is done on a small group of people to learn if a larger study would be useful. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Are app-based wellness interventions feasible and acceptable in a high-stress population like medical residents?
2. Can app-based wellness programs improve wellbeing and self-compassion in medical residents?

Researchers will compare the app-based wellness program to a time- and attention-matched control program.

Participants will:

• Complete online questionnaires at the start of the study and again after completion of the wellness program
• Be assigned by chance (like a coin toss) to one of two different app-based programs, and will participate in the assigned program for 6 weeks. Both programs will involve weekly lessons and brief, daily exercises. Engagement with these exercises will not be mandatory but highly encouraged.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Current PGY4 anesthesiology resident at Massachusetts General Hospital or Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Willingness to provide informed consent

Resident Loved One Inclusion Criteria

• The choice of a resident loved one will be at the discretion of the resident.
• This may include partners, family, friends or other loved ones.
• Only one individual per resident will be eligible to participate.
• Residents will be eligible to participate even if no loved one is identified.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to complete English-language questionnaires
• Inability to access and use the intervention components (smartphone app/web platform)
• Age <18 years
• Concurrent participation in another interventional study designed to target mental fitness or wellbeing