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Electrotherapy and Coaching for Burnout in Healthcare Workers

This study is looking at whether Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) combined with life coaching can help reduce burnout and moral distress in healthcare workers. CES involves a device attached to your earlobes that uses a small electrical current to help with anxiety, insomnia, and pain. The study aims to see if this combination can also improve resilience and help healthcare workers stay in their jobs. You might be able to join if you are a patient-facing healthcare worker between 21 and 75 years old, work on the Buffalo-Niagara Medical Campus, and are experiencing symptoms of burnout. The study will measure burnout and moral distress at the start, after 6 weeks, and after 13 weeks.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 40 participants who will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive CES and coaching first, then a sham (inactive) device and coaching, while the other group will do the reverse.
What's involved
Participants will use a device for 1 hour daily, 5 days a week for 6 weeks, and then switch devices for another 6 weeks. You will also participate in virtual group life coaching sessions and discussions, and view video assignments three times during weeks 1, 3, and 6.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your symptoms of burnout and moral distress will be measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 13 weeks.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06977503

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

Recruiting
NAAges 21–75InterventionalSupportive care
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
~40 participants
Updated 2026-09-09 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Cranial Electrical Stimulation (CES)DiscussionHealth and Wellness CoachInformational InterventionSham Intervention

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Symptoms of burnout in healthcare workers (HCWs)
Measured over At baseline, 8 weeks, and 15 weeks
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Psychiatric Disorder

Explore related trials

Physical AND emotional exhaustion state

NCT06977503

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Roswell Park Cancer Institute

    Buffalo, New Yorkstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Amy Gallagher, PsyD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Who to contact

Amy Gallagher, PsyD
[email protected]
716-845-7399
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

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
Ability to attend three (3) in-person appointments, one (1) hour in duration, at Roswell Park at week 1, week 6 and week 15 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 occuring Mondays at 6:30pm EST, 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

Subjects who self-report as pregnant or nursing. Pregnancy be verified with a urine test for all persons of childbearing potential with a uterus
Subjects with a self-reported history of the following: Meniere's disease, history of vertigo or prone to dizziness, seizure disorder, pacemaker / implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator \[AICD\]), cochlear implant, or any implanted electrical devices that cannot be shut off
Inability to tolerate the required minimum stimulation amplitude (200 uA) during the initial device training at the baseline visit.
Any self-reported medical or psychiatric condition which in the PI or study physician's opinion deems the participant an unsuitable candidate to participate in this trial.
Unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements

What this trial measures

  • Symptoms of burnout in healthcare workers (HCWs)At baseline, 8 weeks, and 15 weeks

    Will be assessed using the Mini-Z Survey. Will be summarized by study arm and time-point (baseline, midpoint, and follow-up) using the appropriate descriptive statistics, and graphically using mean or dot plots. The Mini-Z scores will be modeled as a function of study arm, time-point, their two-way interaction, and random cohort and subject (nested within cohort) effects using linear mixed models (LMMs).

  • Symptoms of moral distress in HCWsAt baseline, 8 weeks, and 15 weeks

    Will be assessed using the Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Workers (MMDHW). Will be summarized by study arm and time-point (baseline, midpoint, and follow-up) using the appropriate descriptive statistics, and graphically using mean or dot plots. The MMDHW scores will be modeled as a function of study arm, time-point, their two-way interaction, and random cohort and subject (nested within cohort) effects using LMMs.