Burnout, ProfessionalNCT06536387
Storytelling Through Music to Improve Well-being Among Homeless Service Providers
A study testing Storytelling Through Music in people with Burnout, Professional and Anxiety, run by University of Texas at Austin at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Homelessness is a complex social issue and requires a dedicated workforce of helping professionals, including nurses and social workers. Secondary traumatic stress is common in this workforce and contributes to poor professional quality of life, burnout, and job turnover. 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, Anxiety, Depression
- What is being tested?
- Storytelling Through Music
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 14 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2024to 14 Nov 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- 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
Who may be able to join
- >18 years old
- employed in a homeless services organization in Austin/Travis County for at least 6 months
- licensed as a nurse or social worker
- ability to read and speak English
- access to computer, internet, and zoom.
Who cannot join
- previous participation in the STM intervention
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Storytelling Through Music: a Novel Approach to Improve Well-being Among Homeless Service Providers
Homelessness is a complex social issue and requires a dedicated workforce of helping professionals, including nurses and social workers. Secondary traumatic stress is common in this workforce and contributes to poor professional quality of life, burnout, and job turnover. These factors undermine the health and well-being of homeless service providers and threaten the stability of this critical workforce. The purpose of this study is to evaluate "Storytelling Through Music," an innovative 6-week, multi-dimensional intervention, to improve well-being among homeless service providers.
Read the detailed description
Research has found that the burden of secondary traumatic stress among homeless service providers (HSP) is similar to that among other healthcare professionals, including nurses working in urban emergency departments and in inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Left unaddressed, secondary traumatic stress can cause compassion fatigue and emotional exhaustion, furthering a cycle of poor professional quality of life (QoL), burnout, and job turnover. Research has identified that arts-based interventions have promise in helping healthcare professionals cope with work-related emotions, assist in revealing genuine emotions linked to work-related stress, and in improving professional QoL. What remains unclear is if arts-based interventions can yield similar benefits amongst HSPs.
The purpose of this study, therefore, is to evaluate the feasibility of implementing Storytelling Through Music (STM) with HSPs working with the homeless population in Austin, Texas. STM is a six-week intervention that combines storytelling, reflective writing, song-writing, and self-care skills to improve emotion regulation through affective and cognitive coping skills. Our preliminary data suggests STM to be feasible and acceptable, and preliminary evidence demonstrates improved coping, psychosocial well-being, and burnout in nurses. Specifically, this project aims to:
Aim 1: Explore the contextual factors impacting the well-being of frontline HSPs.
Aim 2: Examine the feasibility of implementing Storytelling Through Music with HSPs.
Aim 3: Investigate the preliminary intervention effect on coping (emotion regulation, self-compassion); well-being (anxiety, depressive symptoms, loneliness, post-traumatic growth, insomnia); and work-related factors (secondary traumatic stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and intent to leave).
- Conditions
- Burnout, Professional, Anxiety, Depression, Secondary Trauma
- Being tested
- Storytelling Through Music
- Keywords
- burnout, music intervention, emotional well-being, work-related stress
- Medical subject headings
- Burnout, Professional, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, Psychological, Occupational Stress
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Storytelling Through MusicBehavioural
Storytelling Through Music is a six-week intervention that combines storytelling, reflective writing, song-writing, and self-care skills to improve emotion regulation through affective and cognitive coping skills.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Storytelling Through Music | Experimental | Storytelling Through Music is a six-week intervention that utilizes storytelling, reflective writing, self-care skills, and song-writing. The intervention will be administered in small groups of 4-6 participants/group and with a hybrid approach. The writing workshops will occur online, and the share circle (stories and songs shared with the group) will occur in person. The group sizes will be kept small to ensure that each participant has adequate time to share their writing during the group sessions. Receives: Behavioral: Storytelling Through Music |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Study Feasibility
Feasibility will be evaluated by tracking the percentage of participants screened and enrolled. The study will be deemed feasible with a 60% enrollment rate.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)
Intervention Feasibility
Feasibility will be evaluated by tracking the average number of sessions the participants complete. This intervention will be deemed feasible if 85% of the intervention is completed.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)
Intervention Acceptability
An additional primary endpoint is acceptability. Acceptability will be evaluated with semi-structured interview questions to understand the participant's perception of intervention delivery and content, as well as the perceived impact.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)
Secondary outcomes (8)
Mean Change from Baseline in Anxiety Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Emotional Distress-Anxiety Short-Form 8a will be used. The minimum score is 8, and the maximum score is 40. Higher scores indicate more anxiety.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Depression Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression Short-Form 8a will be used.The minimum score is 8, and the maximum score is 40. Higher scores indicate higher levels of depressive symptoms.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Emotion Regulation Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
The Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire-Short Form (TEIQue-SF) will be used to assess trait emotional intelligence (EI). The questionnaire consists of 30 items rated on a 7-point scale, provides a global trait EI score, and scores for four subscales (i.e., well-being, self-control, emotionality, and sociability). Higher scores correspond to high levels of trait EI.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Self-Compassion Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Self-Compassion Scale; range is 26-130; higher score is better outcome.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Loneliness Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale; range is 0-60; lower score is better outcome.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Post-traumatic Growth Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
The Post-traumatic Growth Index (PTGI) consists of 21-items that measures the degree of positive changes in an individual's experience after a challenging life event. The PTGI consists of 5 dimensions: Relating to Others (7-items), New Possibilities (5-items), Personal Strength (4-items), Spiritual Change (2-items), and Appreciation of Life (3-items). Total scores can range from 0 to 105.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Insomnia Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance Short-Form 6a will be used. The minimum score is 6, and the maximum score is 30. Higher scores indicate more sleep disturbance.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Professional Quality of Life Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
The Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) has three subscales: Compassion Satisfaction, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress. Scores are reported on individual subscales and can range from 10 to 50. Higher levels indicate more of the construct.
Measured: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Aug 2024
- Study start1 Jul 2024
- Primary completion14 Nov 2024
- Study completion14 Nov 2024
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 Texas at AustinThe 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
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 14 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas at Austin
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Carolyn Phillips, University of Texas at Austin
- Investigators
- Carolyn Phillips, Principal investigator, University of Texas at Austin
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06536387
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00006156
- Status last verified
- Nov 2024
- First submitted
- 30 Jul 2024
- Last updated
- 13 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Mar 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Storytelling Through Music: a Novel Approach to Improve Well-being Among Homeless Service Providers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06536387
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00006156
- Conditions
- Burnout, Professional, Anxiety, Depression, Secondary Trauma
- Keywords
- burnout, music intervention, emotional well-being, work-related stress
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 14 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Texas at AustinUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 14 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 14 Nov 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 2 Aug 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.
Homelessness is a complex social issue and requires a dedicated workforce of helping professionals, including nurses and social workers. Secondary traumatic stress is common in this workforce and contributes to poor professional quality of life, burnout, and job turnover. These factors undermine the health and well-being of homeless service providers and threaten the stability of this critical workforce. The purpose of this study is to evaluate "Storytelling Through Music," an innovative 6-week, multi-dimensional intervention, to improve well-being among homeless service providers.
Detailed description
Research has found that the burden of secondary traumatic stress among homeless service providers (HSP) is similar to that among other healthcare professionals, including nurses working in urban emergency departments and in inpatient psychiatric hospitals. Left unaddressed, secondary traumatic stress can cause compassion fatigue and emotional exhaustion, furthering a cycle of poor professional quality of life (QoL), burnout, and job turnover. Research has identified that arts-based interventions have promise in helping healthcare professionals cope with work-related emotions, assist in revealing genuine emotions linked to work-related stress, and in improving professional QoL. What remains unclear is if arts-based interventions can yield similar benefits amongst HSPs.
The purpose of this study, therefore, is to evaluate the feasibility of implementing Storytelling Through Music (STM) with HSPs working with the homeless population in Austin, Texas. STM is a six-week intervention that combines storytelling, reflective writing, song-writing, and self-care skills to improve emotion regulation through affective and cognitive coping skills. Our preliminary data suggests STM to be feasible and acceptable, and preliminary evidence demonstrates improved coping, psychosocial well-being, and burnout in nurses. Specifically, this project aims to:
Aim 1: Explore the contextual factors impacting the well-being of frontline HSPs.
Aim 2: Examine the feasibility of implementing Storytelling Through Music with HSPs.
Aim 3: Investigate the preliminary intervention effect on coping (emotion regulation, self-compassion); well-being (anxiety, depressive symptoms, loneliness, post-traumatic growth, insomnia); and work-related factors (secondary traumatic stress, burnout, compassion satisfaction, and intent to leave).
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Storytelling Through Music | Experimental | Behavioral: Storytelling Through MusicStorytelling Through Music is a six-week intervention that utilizes storytelling, reflective writing, self-care skills, and song-writing. The intervention will be administered in small groups of 4-6 participants/group and with a hybrid approach. The writing workshops will occur online, and the share circle (stories and songs shared with the group) will occur in person. The group sizes will be kept small to ensure that each participant has adequate time to share their writing during the group sessions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- >18 years old
- employed in a homeless services organization in Austin/Travis County for at least 6 months
- licensed as a nurse or social worker
- ability to read and speak English
- access to computer, internet, and zoom.
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- previous participation in the STM intervention
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Storytelling Through MusicStorytelling Through Music is a six-week intervention that combines storytelling, reflective writing, song-writing, and self-care skills to improve emotion regulation through affective and cognitive coping skills. | Behavioural | Storytelling Through Music |
Primary outcome
Study Feasibility
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)
Feasibility will be evaluated by tracking the percentage of participants screened and enrolled. The study will be deemed feasible with a 60% enrollment rate.
Intervention Feasibility
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)
Feasibility will be evaluated by tracking the average number of sessions the participants complete. This intervention will be deemed feasible if 85% of the intervention is completed.
Intervention Acceptability
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)
An additional primary endpoint is acceptability. Acceptability will be evaluated with semi-structured interview questions to understand the participant's perception of intervention delivery and content, as well as the perceived impact.
8 secondary outcomes
Mean Change from Baseline in Anxiety Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Depression Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Emotion Regulation Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Self-Compassion Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Loneliness Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Post-traumatic Growth Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Insomnia Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
Mean Change from Baseline in Professional Quality of Life Scores at 6 weeks and 10 weeks
Time frame: Immediately post-intervention and 1-month post-intervention
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 13 Mar 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
Related trials for Burnout, Professional
Active, not recruiting
Online Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction for the Mental Health of Healthcare Professionals
Occupational Stress or Workplace Stress, Burnout, Professionals
Active, not recruiting
Self-Help Plus (SH+) for Stress Reduction in Social Service Workers: A Pilot RCT
Stress, Psychological, Occupational, Stress, Psychological
Recruiting
A Study Of Resilience And Mental Well-Being Through Breathing Practice For Clinical Care Professionals
Burnout, Healthcare Workers, Breathing Exercises
Recruiting
Professional Readiness Through Emotional Preparedness (PREP)
Burnout
Enrolling by invitationObservational study
Floatation Experience in Nurses and Physicians
Burnout, Professional, Negative Affect
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.
Carolyn Phillips principal investigator
University of Texas at Austin
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Storytelling Through Music in people with Burnout, Professional and Anxiety, run by University of Texas at Austin 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 5 inclusion and 1 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 13 Mar 2025. 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?
Study Feasibility (time frame: Immediately post-intervention (6 weeks)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. 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 Mar 2025.