CClinicalTrials.gg
Status unknownNCT05659277Updated Dec 22, 2022

The Effects of Stress & Irregular Shift Hours on First Responders

An observational study in Workplace Stress, Mental Health and HRV, sponsored by Endominance. Status unknown at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-12-22.

Sponsored by Endominance · Observational

The sponsor has not verified this record recently (last verified Dec 2022), so the status shown — last known as Enrolling by invitation — may be out of date.
Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
500
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

First Responders are expected to maintain high-performance levels under extreme conditions. However, constant intense workplace stress, physical work demands, and irregular shift hours are taking a severe toll on frontline workers. These demands often lead to physical and mental health problems, poor job performance, and lifestyle issues. Without better support and resources, these demands will continue to cause first responders to be trapped in a vicious cycle that typically includes occupational trauma, stress, and maladaptive coping skills.

The purpose of this research is to:

  1. Better understand the physiological, psychological, and cognitive impacts workplace stress and irregular shift hours have on first responders
  2. Better understand the most prominent challenges first responders face when trying to manage their own physical and mental health.

Through the results of this study, we hope to identify possible solutions/interventions at the individual, clinical and departmental levels to help first responders better manage their stress and improve their quality of life.

Read the detailed description

This study aims to expand and improve current research regarding the physiological, psychological, and cognitive impacts that workplace stress and irregular shift hours have on first responders. The investigators will examine electroencephalogram (EEG)/heart rate variability (HRV) measurements and gut microbiota to help bridge the connection between the impacts of a physically and mentally demanding workplace with highly irregular shift hours on first responders. There are numerous studies conducted to evaluate how stress impacts first responders in areas such as physical and mental health, but there lacks comprehensive research that examines the physiological, psychological, and cognitive impacts of workplace stress and irregular shift hours have on first responders in the U.S.

There also lacks information of the challenges first responders face when trying to manage their physical and mental health. To conduct these objectives, we will focus on these specific aspects:

  1. The impact of shift hours (especially longer shift hours, e.g., firefighters 24 vs. 48 shift hours) on first responders, specifically in connection to sleep disorders and other cognitive function-related issues.
  2. The connection between workplace incidents and stress/alertness levels - even during off-duty hours.
  3. First responder self-help/stress relief coping techniques or modalities and their efficacy
02

Conditions studied

  • Workplace Stress
  • Mental Health
  • HRV
  • EEG
  • PTSD

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • First Responder
  • Shift Work
  • PHQ9
  • GAD7
03

In context

Occupational Stress

236 studies on the registry are indexed under Occupational Stress; 64 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 500 is above the median of 200 across 64 observational studies indexed under Occupational Stress.

Browse Occupational Stress studies →

Lead sponsor

Endominance is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

First Responders including firefighters, police, SWAT, EMTs, detectives, and dispatchers.

Inclusion criteria

  • Full-Time, actively employed First Responder
  • Participants must be 18 years of age and older
  • Participants must be able to read and write English
  • Participants must be able to provide consent independently
  • Participants must provide a legitimate postal address/P.O Box
  • Participants must have access to a device such as a computer or a smartphone

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to provide a stool sample due to health status or functional impairment
  • Unable to complete EEG measurement due to health status
  • Cognitively impaired persons
  • Department volunteers
  • Prisoners
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrollment
500 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No
Biospecimen retention
Samples without dna

Interventions

  • OtherWorkplace Stress and Irregular shift hours

    The physiological, psychological, and cognitive impacts that workplace stress and irregular shift hours have on first responders.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. aMCI (Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment) via Electroencephalogram (EEG)

    Using an advanced wireless EEG device, PPG is measured using the following frequency bands for the prediction of aMCI: Absolute power of delta(1-4Hz), alpha1(8-10Hz), beta2(15-20Hz), beta3(20-30Hz), gamma(30-45Hz) and relative power-delta (1-4Hz), theta (4-8Hz), alpha1 (8-10Hz), alpha2 (10-12Hz), beta1 (10-15Hz), beta2(15-20Hz) and gamma(30-45Hz). Specially trained machine learning algorithms can process quantitative EEG to identify subtle evidence of aMCI, thus enabling early interventions that have the greatest potential for delaying or preventing the progression of aMCI to Alzheimer's disease. Individual results will be provided.

    Time frame: up to 3 months

  2. Brain Functionality via Electroencephalogram (EEG)

    PPG is measured using the following frequency bands for the prediction of brain functionality: Absolute power of delta(1-4Hz), alpha1(8-10Hz), beta2(15-20Hz), beta3(20-30Hz), gamma(30-45Hz) and relative power-delta (1-4Hz), theta (4-8Hz), alpha1 (8-10Hz), alpha2 (10-12Hz), beta1 (10-15Hz), beta2(15-20Hz) and gamma(30-45Hz). 3D brainwave analysis highlights the functional, rather than the structural, status of key brain areas, offering special insights into cortical dysfunction or compensatory activity. This brain map highlights areas where the balance between slow (theta, 4-8Hz) waves and fast (beta, 15-20Hz) waves differs from that expected based on age and sex-matched normal healthy population. Lower-than-expected levels of function are reported along with higher- than expected levels. Individual results will be provided.

    Time frame: up to 3 months

  3. ANS (Autonomic Nervous System) stress analysis via simultaneous Electroencephalogram (EEG) and HRV (heart rate variability)

    The stress report analyzes ones PPG rhythm pattern with an AI algorithm, displaying 5 stages of stress from homeostasis to burnout (homeostasis, alarm, resistance, exhaustion, and burnout). HRV indicates balance between the activity of the two branches of the ANS. Individual results will be provided.

    Time frame: up to 3 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Cognitive Orientation & Social-Emotional Competency Assessment (COSEC)

    An online cognitive propensity and behavioral preference diagnostic tool. COSEC is designed to understand people's various tendencies that occur during the process between perceiving the environment and responding in action. It illustrates an individual's personality and aptitude as an outcome shaped by their environment and the perception of the world around them. COSEC incorporates the environmental impact on the individual by looking at the unique process of a person's perception, conception, and behavior process. Assessments are scored using an algorithm to generate quantified measurements based on multifactorial relationships between a subject's responses. Participants who complete the study will receive their personalized digital report called the COBI report.

    Time frame: up to 3 months

Other outcomes

  1. Microbiome Analysis

    Investigators will analyze participants' microbiomes to better understand diet habits and lifestyles. Enrolled participants will receive an at-home stool sample kit with instructions for the collection, storage, and shipping of samples. Samples will be lab processed and analyzed for the diversity of gut bacteria, dietary habits as well as gut microbiota-derived metabolites from exogenous dietary substrates and endogenous host compounds. Individual results will not be provided.

    Time frame: up to 3 months

  2. Health and Lifestyle survey

    Demographic, health, and lifestyle data.

    Time frame: up to 3 months

  3. Depression Scores - Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

    PHQ-9 is a self-administered, 9-question diagnostic tool that rates depression using 9 DSM-V criteria for depression based on mood. Each of the 9 DSM-V criteria is scored as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day). Higher scores indicate greater severity of depressive symptoms. Individual results will not be provided.

    Time frame: up to 3 months

  4. Anxiety Scores - Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7)

    GAD-7 is a self-reported questionnaire for screening and severity measuring of generalized anxiety disorder. The GAD-7 items include 1) nervousness; 2) inability to stop worrying; 3) excessive worry; 4) restlessness; 5) difficulty in relaxing; 6) easy irritation and 7 fear of something awful happening. Higher scores indicate greater severity of anxiety symptoms. Individual results will not be provided.

    Time frame: up to 3 months

  5. Post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) - PCL-5

    The PCL-5 is a 20-item self-report measure that assesses the 20 DSM-5 symptoms of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). Responders are asked to rate how bothered they have been by each item in the past month on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0-4: "0" (not at all) to "4" (extremely). A total symptom severity score (range - 0-80) can be obtained by summing the scores for each of the 20 items. Research suggests that a PCL-5 score between 31-33 is indicative of probable PTSD. Individual results will not be provided.

    Time frame: up to 3 months

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Endominance Inc.
    Irvine, California 92618, United States
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Dec 22, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT05659277
Lead sponsor
Endominance
Collaborators
Dr. John J. Ratey, F1RST Clinic (Dr. Heather Twedell), HEM Pharma Inc., iMediSync
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Dec 21, 2022
Start date
Oct 12, 2022
Primary completion
Apr 11, 2023 (estimated)
Completion
May 1, 2023 (estimated)
Last update
Dec 22, 2022

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is status unknown, as verified in Dec 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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