Stress and Recovery in Frontline COVID-19 Workers

Summary

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an unprecedented stress on healthcare systems in affected countries, and in particular, on the healthcare workers at the frontline working directly with COVID-19 positive patients. Numerous lines of evidence support the damaging impact of stress on our immune systems which increases susceptibility to infection. Yet, the accurate measurement of immediate stress responses in real time and in naturalistic settings has so far been a challenge, limiting our understanding of how different facets of acute or sustained stress increases susceptibility. This study utilizes wearable technologies including an Oura smart ring as well as semi-continuous passive and active biometric measurements carried out using individuals' own smartphones equipped with applications to track and transmit key data to measure frontline workers stress and recovery during a uniquely stressful and high-risk work environment.

Conditions

• Covid19
• Stress
• Wearables

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Lifestyle (Meditation)

Those in the meditation arm (exercisers) were instructed to complete meditation sessions from the smartphone app, Headspace 2 or more times a week for a duration of 4 weeks.

BEHAVIORAL

Lifestyle (Exercise)

Those in the physical activity arm (meditators) were instructed to complete 30 minutes to 1 hour of physical activity for 2 or more sessions per week for 4 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Center for International Emergency Medical Services

  collaborator OTHER

• Evidation Health

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Cambridge Cognition Ltd

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

  collaborator OTHER

• 4YouandMe

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Stephen Friend, PhD, MD · 4YouandMe

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SCREENING

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-05-04

Primary Completion

2020-11-30

Completion

2020-11-30

Countries

• United States

Study Locations