Burnout, ProfessionalINSPIRENCT06806150
The INSPIRE Study: INvestigation of Swiss Physicians Inner-life, Resilience, and Emotions
A study testing INSPIRE Life Reflection and INSPIRE Work Reflection in people with Burnout, Professional and Emotional Exhaustion, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial, nested within an observational cohort study, is to evaluate whether two positive psychology web-based interventions can reduce emotional exhaustion and improve overall well-being in practicing physicians in Switzerland. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Burnout, Professional, Emotional Exhaustion, Emotions
- What is being tested?
- INSPIRE Life Reflection and INSPIRE Work Reflection
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 450 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 15 Apr 2026to 15 Aug 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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
Who may be able to join
- Be a practicing physician in Switzerland
- Working at least 40% in a clinical capacity
- Be willing and able to provide informed consent
- Expecting to be professionally active until 2028
Who cannot join
- Retired physician or physician seeking retirement within 3 years from first participation in the study
- Physician unable to participate in one of the study languages: English, German, or French
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Robert Staeck, MSc contact
Switzerland1 site
University of Bern
Bern, 3012
Sofia C Zambrano, PhD, sofia.zambrano@unibe.ch
Robert Staeck, MSc, robert.staeck@unibe.ch
About this study
The goal of this clinical trial, nested within an observational cohort study, is to evaluate whether two positive psychology web-based interventions can reduce emotional exhaustion and improve overall well-being in practicing physicians in Switzerland. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does participation in positive psychology interventions reduce emotional exhaustion at three months post-intervention? How do these interventions impact physician wellness, job satisfaction, comfort with end-of-life communication and other aspects of physicians' emotional well-being?
Read more
Researchers will compare the effects of two intervention arms (general reflection vs. work-specific reflection) to a control group to determine whether focusing on work-specific aspects leads to greater improvements in emotional exhaustion and job-related outcomes.
Participants will:
- Complete an 8-day intervention consisting of positive psychology activities delivered online.
- Complete baseline and follow-up assessments over the study period
Read the detailed description
Burnout, emotional exhaustion, and moral distress are widespread among physicians, negatively impacting patient care, job satisfaction, and physician retention in the workforce. While interventions targeting burnout exist, many require significant time commitments or institutional support, limiting accessibility.
Positive psychology interventions, which emphasize strengths-based approaches such as self-reflection, gratitude, and self-compassion, have shown promise in enhancing resilience and well-being.
The INSPIRE study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) nested within an observational cohort using a Trial within Cohort (TwiC) design. It evaluates two web-based positive psychology interventions aimed at reducing emotional exhaustion and improving physician well-being.
A subset of cohort participants is randomized into one of three arms: a control group, a general life reflection intervention, or a work-focused reflection intervention. The interventions consist of an 8-day structured self-reflection program delivered online.
The study employs automated randomization, triple masking (participants, investigators, and outcome assessors), and longitudinal assessments over one year. Findings will inform the scalability of low-burden interventions for physician burnout prevention.
- Conditions
- Burnout, Professional, Emotional Exhaustion, Emotions, Wellness, Psychological, Satisfaction, Personal
- Being tested
- INSPIRE Life Reflection, INSPIRE Work Reflection
- Keywords
- Psychological resilience, Positive Psychology
- Medical subject headings
- Burnout, Professional, Emotional Exhaustion, Psychological Well-Being, Personal Satisfaction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
INSPIRE Life ReflectionBehavioural
An 8-day web-based positive psychology intervention encouraging participants to reflect on positive aspects of their daily lives. Activities include gratitude exercises, self-compassion writing, and recognizing meaningful moments.
INSPIRE Work ReflectionBehavioural
An 8-day web-based positive psychology intervention encouraging participants to reflect on positive aspects of their work experiences. Activities include gratitude exercises, self-compassion writing, and recognizing meaningful professional interactions.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention 1 - General Positive Psychology Reflection | Experimental | Participants engage in an 8-day web-based intervention involving positive psychology exercises focused on general life situations. Receives: Behavioral: INSPIRE Life Reflection |
| Intervention 2 - Work-Specific Positive Psychology Reflection | Experimental | Participants engage in the same 8-day web-based intervention, but the focus is specifically on positive reflections related to work and patient interactions. Receives: Behavioral: INSPIRE Work Reflection |
| Control group | No intervention | Participants complete assessments but do not receive the intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from baseline in Emotional Exhaustion
Emotional Exhaustion subscale of the MBI-HSS
Measured: 3 months post-intervention
Secondary outcomes (12)
Change in Emotional Exhaustion
Emotional Exhaustion subscale of the MBI-HSS
Measured: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Depersonalization
Depersonalization subscale of the MBI-HSS
Measured: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Personal Accomplishment
Personal accomplishment subscale of the MBI-HSS
Measured: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Physician wellbeing
Physician Wellness Inventory (PWI)
Measured: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Job Satisfaction
Physician Job Satisfaction Scale
Measured: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in comfort with End-of-Life Communication
Communication about End of Life Survey
Measured: Baseline to 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Mindfulness
Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS-Trait)
Measured: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Compassionate Care
Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale
Measured: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Emotion Regulation
Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ)
Measured: Baseline to 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Positive and Negative Affect
Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
Measured: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Authenticity
Inauthenticity Scale
Measured: Baseline to 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Resilience
2-item Connor-Davidson resilience scale
Measured: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted3 Feb 2025
- Study start15 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion15 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion15 Aug 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Burnout, ProfessionalStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of BernThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 450 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Bern
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Sofia C Zambrano, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Bern
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06806150
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023-00963
- Other IDs
- 2023
- Acronym
- INSPIRE
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 31 Jan 2025
- Last updated
- 13 Feb 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be made available for research purposes upon request. Data will include survey responses and outcome measures but will exclude any personally identifiable information
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Feb 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The INSPIRE Study: INvestigation of Swiss Physicians Inner-life, Resilience, and Emotions
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06806150
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- INSPIRE / 2023-00963
- Conditions
- Burnout, Professional, Emotional Exhaustion, Emotions, Wellness, Psychological, Satisfaction, Personal
- Keywords
- Psychological resilience, Positive Psychology
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 450 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of BernUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 15 Apr 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 15 Jan 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 15 Aug 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 3 Feb 2025 (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.
The goal of this clinical trial, nested within an observational cohort study, is to evaluate whether two positive psychology web-based interventions can reduce emotional exhaustion and improve overall well-being in practicing physicians in Switzerland. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does participation in positive psychology interventions reduce emotional exhaustion at three months post-intervention? How do these interventions impact physician wellness, job satisfaction, comfort with end-of-life communication and other aspects of physicians' emotional well-being?
Researchers will compare the effects of two intervention arms (general reflection vs. work-specific reflection) to a control group to determine whether focusing on work-specific aspects leads to greater improvements in emotional exhaustion and job-related outcomes.
Participants will:
- Complete an 8-day intervention consisting of positive psychology activities delivered online.
- Complete baseline and follow-up assessments over the study period
Detailed description
Burnout, emotional exhaustion, and moral distress are widespread among physicians, negatively impacting patient care, job satisfaction, and physician retention in the workforce. While interventions targeting burnout exist, many require significant time commitments or institutional support, limiting accessibility.
Positive psychology interventions, which emphasize strengths-based approaches such as self-reflection, gratitude, and self-compassion, have shown promise in enhancing resilience and well-being.
The INSPIRE study is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) nested within an observational cohort using a Trial within Cohort (TwiC) design. It evaluates two web-based positive psychology interventions aimed at reducing emotional exhaustion and improving physician well-being.
A subset of cohort participants is randomized into one of three arms: a control group, a general life reflection intervention, or a work-focused reflection intervention. The interventions consist of an 8-day structured self-reflection program delivered online.
The study employs automated randomization, triple masking (participants, investigators, and outcome assessors), and longitudinal assessments over one year. Findings will inform the scalability of low-burden interventions for physician burnout prevention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention 1 - General Positive Psychology Reflection | Experimental | Behavioral: INSPIRE Life ReflectionParticipants engage in an 8-day web-based intervention involving positive psychology exercises focused on general life situations. |
| Intervention 2 - Work-Specific Positive Psychology Reflection | Experimental | Behavioral: INSPIRE Work ReflectionParticipants engage in the same 8-day web-based intervention, but the focus is specifically on positive reflections related to work and patient interactions. |
| Control group | No intervention | –Participants complete assessments but do not receive the intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Be a practicing physician in Switzerland
- Working at least 40% in a clinical capacity
- Be willing and able to provide informed consent
- Expecting to be professionally active until 2028
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Retired physician or physician seeking retirement within 3 years from first participation in the study
- Physician unable to participate in one of the study languages: English, German, or French
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 |
|---|---|---|
| INSPIRE Life ReflectionAn 8-day web-based positive psychology intervention encouraging participants to reflect on positive aspects of their daily lives. Activities include gratitude exercises, self-compassion writing, and recognizing meaningful moments. | Behavioural | Intervention 1 - General Positive Psychology Reflection |
| INSPIRE Work ReflectionAn 8-day web-based positive psychology intervention encouraging participants to reflect on positive aspects of their work experiences. Activities include gratitude exercises, self-compassion writing, and recognizing meaningful professional interactions. | Behavioural | Intervention 2 - Work-Specific Positive Psychology Reflection |
Primary outcome
Change from baseline in Emotional Exhaustion
Time frame: 3 months post-intervention
Emotional Exhaustion subscale of the MBI-HSS
12 secondary outcomes
Change in Emotional Exhaustion
Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Depersonalization
Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Personal Accomplishment
Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Physician wellbeing
Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Job Satisfaction
Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in comfort with End-of-Life Communication
Time frame: Baseline to 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Mindfulness
Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Compassionate Care
Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Emotion Regulation
Time frame: Baseline to 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Positive and Negative Affect
Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Change in Authenticity
Time frame: Baseline to 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Resilience
Time frame: Baseline to 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Feb 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified individual participant data (IPD) will be made available for research purposes upon request. Data will include survey responses and outcome measures but will exclude any personally identifiable information
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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.
Robert Staeck, MSc contact
Sofia C Zambrano, PhD principal investigator
University of Bern
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing INSPIRE Life Reflection and INSPIRE Work Reflection in people with Burnout, Professional and Emotional Exhaustion, run by University of Bern at 1 site in Switzerland.
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 4 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Feb 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 Switzerland. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Sofia C Zambrano, PhD (+41 31 684 57 76, sofia.zambrano@unibe.ch), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change from baseline in Emotional Exhaustion (time frame: 3 months post-intervention). 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 13 Feb 2026.