BurnoutNCT06343584
Are Personal Smartphones Hurting Work-Life Balance for Nurse Managers?
An observational study of Burnout, run by Methodist Health System at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
For leadership positions with only a handful of staff under their direct chain of command, this may not be all-consuming and detrimental to work-life balance. But for NMs with upwards of 100 direct reports, this can make for a never-ending stream of contact points. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Burnout
- What is being tested?
- Study will conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale.
- How many people
- 6 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2021to 6 May 2022
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: * Participant must hold the title of Nurse Manager or Interim Nurse Manager at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center * Participant must have greater than 50 direct reports
Who may be able to join
- Participant must hold the title of Nurse Manager or Interim Nurse Manager at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
- Participant must have greater than 50 direct reports
Who cannot join
- Participant expects to separate employment with Methodist Health System prior to the conclusion of the study
- Participant does not use their personal smartphone to communicate with direct reports
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
Mansfield, Texas, 76063
About this study
For leadership positions with only a handful of staff under their direct chain of command, this may not be all-consuming and detrimental to work-life balance. But for NMs with upwards of 100 direct reports, this can make for a never-ending stream of contact points. This study will implement several communication and behavioral strategies to determine how using provided smartphone tools impact work-life balance and professional burnout.
Read the detailed description
The study will be conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale. This study is being done as a pilot study with a small sample size. NMs will be recruited as volunteers for participation in the study with an anticipated six-month time commitment. Upon receipt of informed consent, participants will be divided into two groups. Group 1 will receive a list of suggested tools used to decrease the amount of smartphone interruptions after business hours (Appendix B) and Group 2 will receive a work-issued smartphone with instructions for use (Appendix C). Both groups will use a pre-post test format designed to compare the outcomes between the two groups. Post-study analysis will compare pre- and post-tests within each group and will compare Group 1 and Group 2 post-intervention outcomes.
- Conditions
- Burnout
- Being tested
- Study will conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale.
- Medical subject headings
- Burnout, Psychological
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Study will conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale.Other
Group 1 will receive a list of suggested tools used to decrease the amount of smartphone interruptions after business hours (Appendix B) and Group 2 will receive a work-issued smartphone with instructions for use (Appendix C). Both groups will use a pre-post test format designed to compare the outcomes between the two groups. Post-study analysis will compare pre- and post-tests within each group and will compare Group 1 and Group 2 post-intervention outcomes.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Must hold the title of Nurse Manager or Interim Nurse Manager at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. Upon receipt of informed consent, participants will be divided into two groups.
Group 1 will receive a list of suggested tools used to decrease the amount of smartphone interruptions after business hours Receives: Other: Study will conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale. | |
| Group 2 | Must hold the title of Nurse Manager or Interim Nurse Manager at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. Upon receipt of informed consent, participants will be divided into two groups.
Group 2 will receive a work-issued smartphone with instructions for use (Appendix C). Receives: Other: Study will conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
• Impact of smartphone tool utilization will be measured using a pre-study survey and post-study survey using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale (Stamm, 2009).
- Impact of smartphone tool utilization will be measured using a pre-study survey and post-study survey using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale (Stamm, 2009).
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (4)
• Participants in Group 1 will self-report on the post-study survey (Appendix D1) the number of tools implemented during the study duration.
- Participants in Group 1 will self-report on the post-study survey (Appendix D1) the number of tools implemented during the study duration.
Measured: 6 months
• Participants in Group 1 will self-report on the post-study survey (Appendix D1) the frequency of tool utilization during the study duration using a Likert scale.
- Participants in Group 1 will self-report on the post-study survey (Appendix D1) the frequency of tool utilization during the study duration using a Likert scale.
Measured: 6 months
• Participants in Group 2 will self-report on the post-study survey (Appendix D2) using the ProQOL Scale.
- Participants in Group 2 will self-report on the post-study survey (Appendix D2) using the ProQOL Scale.
Measured: 6 months
• Responses to the post-study survey from participants in Group 2 will be compared to participants in Group 1 to determine if utilizing a separate work smartphone during business hours has a greater improvement on work-life balance and burnout.
- Responses to the post-study survey from participants in Group 2 will be compared to participants in Group 1 to determine if utilizing a separate work smartphone during business hours has a greater improvement on work-life balance and burnout.
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Apr 2024
- Study start1 Jul 2021
- Primary completion6 May 2022
- Study completion6 May 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for BurnoutStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 6 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Methodist Health System
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Brooks Williams, DNP, Principal investigator, Methodist Health System
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06343584
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 023.NUR.2021.M
- Status last verified
- Apr 2022
- First submitted
- 27 Apr 2022
- Last updated
- 23 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Are Personal Smartphones Hurting Work-Life Balance for Nurse Managers?
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06343584
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 023.NUR.2021.M
- Conditions
- Burnout
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 6 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Methodist Health SystemUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 6 May 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 6 May 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Apr 2024 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
For leadership positions with only a handful of staff under their direct chain of command, this may not be all-consuming and detrimental to work-life balance. But for NMs with upwards of 100 direct reports, this can make for a never-ending stream of contact points. This study will implement several communication and behavioral strategies to determine how using provided smartphone tools impact work-life balance and professional burnout.
Detailed description
The study will be conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale. This study is being done as a pilot study with a small sample size. NMs will be recruited as volunteers for participation in the study with an anticipated six-month time commitment. Upon receipt of informed consent, participants will be divided into two groups. Group 1 will receive a list of suggested tools used to decrease the amount of smartphone interruptions after business hours (Appendix B) and Group 2 will receive a work-issued smartphone with instructions for use (Appendix C). Both groups will use a pre-post test format designed to compare the outcomes between the two groups. Post-study analysis will compare pre- and post-tests within each group and will compare Group 1 and Group 2 post-intervention outcomes.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | – | Other: Study will conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale.Must hold the title of Nurse Manager or Interim Nurse Manager at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. Upon receipt of informed consent, participants will be divided into two groups. Group 1 will receive a list of suggested tools used to decrease the amount of smartphone interruptions after business hours |
| Group 2 | – | Other: Study will conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale.Must hold the title of Nurse Manager or Interim Nurse Manager at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center. Upon receipt of informed consent, participants will be divided into two groups. Group 2 will receive a work-issued smartphone with instructions for use (Appendix C). |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- * Participant must hold the title of Nurse Manager or Interim Nurse Manager at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center * Participant must have greater than 50 direct reports
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Participant must hold the title of Nurse Manager or Interim Nurse Manager at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
- Participant must have greater than 50 direct reports
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Participant expects to separate employment with Methodist Health System prior to the conclusion of the study
- Participant does not use their personal smartphone to communicate with direct reports
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Study will conducted over a six-month period using a quasi-experimental Pre-test/Post-test design using Stamm's (2009) ProQOL Scale.Group 1 will receive a list of suggested tools used to decrease the amount of smartphone interruptions after business hours (Appendix B) and Group 2 will receive a work-issued smartphone with instructions for use (Appendix C). Both groups will use a pre-post test format designed to compare the outcomes between the two groups. Post-study analysis will compare pre- and post-tests within each group and will compare Group 1 and Group 2 post-intervention outcomes. | Other | Group 1, Group 2 |
Primary outcome
• Impact of smartphone tool utilization will be measured using a pre-study survey and post-study survey using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale (Stamm, 2009).
Time frame: 6 months
• Impact of smartphone tool utilization will be measured using a pre-study survey and post-study survey using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale (Stamm, 2009).
4 secondary outcomes
• Participants in Group 1 will self-report on the post-study survey (Appendix D1) the number of tools implemented during the study duration.
Time frame: 6 months
• Participants in Group 1 will self-report on the post-study survey (Appendix D1) the frequency of tool utilization during the study duration using a Likert scale.
Time frame: 6 months
• Participants in Group 2 will self-report on the post-study survey (Appendix D2) using the ProQOL Scale.
Time frame: 6 months
• Responses to the post-study survey from participants in Group 2 will be compared to participants in Group 1 to determine if utilizing a separate work smartphone during business hours has a greater improvement on work-life balance and burnout.
Time frame: 6 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Mar 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Brooks Williams, DNP principal investigator
Methodist Health System
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Burnout, run by Methodist Health System at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
• Impact of smartphone tool utilization will be measured using a pre-study survey and post-study survey using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) Scale (Stamm, 2009). (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Mar 2026.