NCT04347811

Use of Death Cafes to Prevent Burnout in ICU Healthcare Employees

Systematic Trial Of PrevenTing Healthcare Employee Burnout: Using Reflection & Nourishment

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 340 (actual)
• Sponsor: Tulane University School of Medicine · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Burnout affects a significant number of healthcare employees and leads to worsened mental health, increased job turnover, and patient safety events. Those caring for critically ill patients may be especially susceptible due to high patient mortality, long hours, and regular encounters with traumatic and ethical issues. Preliminary studies suggest that debriefing opportunities may reduce burnout through reflection on distressing patient events, enhancement of social support, and interprofessional collaboration. Death Cafés are a specific form of debriefing that focus on discussing death, dying, loss, and illness. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether biweekly Death Cafe group debriefing sessions can prevent burnout in ICU physicians and staff.

Conditions

• Burnout
• Burnout, Professional
• Burnout, Psychological
• Anxiety
• Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Death Cafe	Death Cafés are a specific form of debriefing that focuses on discussing death, dying, loss, and illness. Nourishment in the form of cake is provided. These sessions may allow for reflection on distressing patient events while developing a sense of community and collaboration among hospital employees.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-07-20
• Primary completion: 2022-12-26
• Completion: 2022-12-26
• First posted: 2020-04-15
• Last updated: 2023-02-06

Locations

4 sites across 1 country: United States