This study is a pilot clinical trial designed to evaluate a flexible, online mindfulness program for pediatric residents. Medical training can be stressful, and although mindfulness programs are often offered to support well-being, many are either in-person or follow a fixed format that may not fit individual schedules or preferences. This study will test a digital mindfulness program called Wakeful, which allows participants to complete the course at their own pace. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will be able to choose the length of their mindfulness program (3, 5, or 7 weeks), while the other group will be assigned a program length without a choice. The goal is to understand whether giving participants a choice improves how often they use the program, how satisfied they are with it, and whether they complete it. The main outcomes of this study focus on how participants interact with the program, including how many sessions they complete, how often they practice mindfulness on their own, and how useful and relevant they find the program. The study will also look at overall satisfaction and how many participants drop out before finishing. In addition, the study will explore whether participants report changes in mindfulness and compassion for others, although it is not designed to determine clinical improvements in mental health. By understanding how pediatric residents engage with different program formats, this study aims to inform the design of more flexible and user-centered digital wellness programs that better fit into demanding medical training environments.
Current categorical pediatrics residents at Northwestern University.
Preliminary pediatrics residents who intend to continue in pediatrics.
Willing and able to provide informed consent.
None
Parallel
Wakeful Digital Mindfulness Program
BehavioralWakeful digital mindfulness program: an asynchronous, web-based course with guided meditations, didactic content, and optional reflective exercises.
Engagement and completion of Wakeful program modules
The primary outcome measures participant engagement with the Wakeful digital mindfulness program, including (1) the number of program modules completed, (2) frequency and duration of platform use, (3) frequency of independent meditation practice, (4) perceived usability and relevance, and (5) overall satisfaction and dropout rates. All measures are collected via de-identified platform usage data and post-intervention surveys to assess acceptability and adherence.
Changes in mindfulness, self-compassion, and compassion for others
Exploratory outcomes assess trends in psychological constructs following the Wakeful digital mindfulness program. Measures include mindfulness using the PROMIS Global Mindfulness Measure, self-compassion using the Neff Self-Compassion Scale, and compassion for others using the Neff Compassion Scale. These surveys are completed at baseline and post-intervention. The study is not powered for statistical comparisons; analyses are descriptive to guide future intervention design.
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