Impact of Heart Rate Variability Modulation on Stress Management Among Physicians

February 16, 2026 updated by: Michelle Thompson

Impact of Heart Rate Variability Modulation on Stress and Recovery Among Physicians

The purpose of this research is to examine a wearable device called Apollo that emits gentle vibrations found to benefit mood, energy, and focus. We want to understand how it affects burnout in physicians.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study will be conducted by using a Tuned Vibroacoustic Stimulation (TVS) device(the commercially available TVS device known as the Apollo wearable), that has been shown in clinical studies at University of Pittsburgh to improve heart rate variability and recovery under stress. The Apollo wearable generates low volume sound waves that feel like a soothing touch to the skin. This study will assess whether slight modulation of heart rate variability (HRV) will result in a reduction in stress, improved recovery, and recovery in and around the hospital. Physicians will wear the Apollo device for heart rate variability modulation and complete questionnaires before and after use of the Apollo device for comparison of outcomes.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • UPMC attending physicians and residents. The participants must have either IOS or Android phones.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unwillingness or inability to participate in the study
  • Currently own an Apollo device

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Apollo Intervention Arm
Eligible UPMC Physicians and Residents who consent to be part of this study will use an Apollo Device TVS (10-200 Hz) attached to the subject's wrist or ankle via a commercially available wearable vibration technology that can deliver TVS (Transcutaneous Vibratory Stimulation). The intensity will be targeted for the sensory threshold (the level at which the vibration is just noticeable), as this is where the TVS seems most effective from prior studies. Similar vibratory stimuli have been demonstrated to be safe in the literature. The intensity of the vibration will be adjusted to the subjects' comfort and can be controlled by the subject at any time.
Device: Apollo Wearable
Participants will be provided with the Apollo wearable device and asked to install the study mobile application on their mobile phones. Participants will use the Apollo for at least 30 minutes after waking up and at least 30 minutes before bed on the corresponding settings for those times of the day. They will be given the Apollo Device TVS (10-200 Hz) to borrow, which they will be instructed to wear daily. They will be asked to wear the device until all study data is collected.
Other Names:
  • Apollo Neuro

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Copenhagen Burnout Inventory
Time Frame: Through study completion, on average 8 weeks
The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) is a 19-item self reported measure of burnout. It contains three sub-scales measuring personal burnout, work-related burnout, and client-related burnout
Through study completion, on average 8 weeks
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10)
Time Frame: Through study completion, on average 8 weeks

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is the most widely used psychological instrument for measuring the perception of stress using a 10-item survey.

It is a measure of the degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful.
Through study completion, on average 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology
Time Frame: Through study completion, on average 8 weeks
The QIDS is a brief, 16-item self-rated assessment tool used to evaluate the symptoms of depression present in a patient during the past week.
Through study completion, on average 8 weeks
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time Frame: Through study completion, on average 8 weeks
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-rated questionnaire which assesses sleep quality and disturbances over a 1-month time interval. With a range of scores 1-21.
Through study completion, on average 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Michelle Thompson

Collaborators

The Board of Medicine
Apollo Neuroscience, Inc.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Michelle Thompson, DO, University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 15, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 9, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 9, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

February 16, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 16, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STUDY22060130

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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