Assessing the Impact of Acupuncture Therapy on Medical Resident Well-Being: Feasibility and Acceptance

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This feasibility study develops methods for larger-scale research, evaluating the acceptability and perceived impact of a group acupuncture and acupressure intervention, as well as suitability of a self-report instrument. During their weekly training program, eleven OB residents at NYU Lutheran Medical Center will receive three sessions of auricular acupuncture therapy. (This resident population was previously anonymously surveyed and all expressed interest in participating in such a study). The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL) will be administered at 6 time points. A brief survey will also be given to assess participants' acceptance of the intervention as well as applicability of the ProQOL instrument. Additional feasibility-related outcomes include protocol compliance/withdrawals, adverse events, and time taken to complete intervention and surveys.

Official Title
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Assessing the Impact of Acupuncture Therapy on Medical Resident Well-Being: Feasibility and Acceptance

Conditions
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Exhaustion; Syndrome

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Auricular Acupuncture Therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Enrollment in NYU Lutheran Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency program Exclusion Criteria: Women currently pregnant or attempting to conceive

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 25 Years
Maximum Age: 44 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: fourth-year Obstetrics and Gynecology residents<br>The intervention will be three sessions of auricular acupuncture therapy; there will be no control intervention. | Behavioral: Auricular Acupuncture Therapy<br>* Acupuncture treatment will be the NADA protocol, a well-known and commonly used protocol that has previously been studied for stress relief in health care workers.In this protocol, 5, ½ needles are inserted in each auricle and retained while the group relaxes for 20 minutes. It will be conducted by two acupuncturists credentialed at NYU Lutheran (TK and AG).<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) | he ProQOL is the most commonly used measure of the negative and positive affects of helping others who experience suffering and trauma. The ProQOL has sub-scales for compassion satisfaction, burnout and compassion fatigue. | 4 Weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Medical Residents, Well-Being, Stress/Burnout in Medical Residents