An interventional study of Box Breathing and Breathing and Mindfulness Exercise in Stress, Psychological, Burnout, Psychological and Subjective Stress, sponsored by Charite University, Berlin, Germany. Completed at 1 site in Germany. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-12-10.
Sponsored by Charite University, Berlin, Germany · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Medical practice often comes with high stress. Stress negatively affects our health and well-being and is linked to doctors making mistakes, some of which can be deadly.
In this study, the effect of two quick stress-relief methods on daily stress levels is estimated. The two anti-stress exercises are designed to easily fit into daily routines:
The effectiveness of these interventions is being examined in a series of N-of-1 trials. Each participant can choose between the interventions. After being randomly allocated to an individual sequence of one-week intervention and control phases, the study begins. Participants record their stress levels daily over the four-week study period. The intervention is only performed in the intervention phases. Upon completing the study, the stress levels during the intervention phases are compared to those in the control phases. Each participant will receive an individual analysis based on the collected data. In addition, the investigators will estimate the effects at the population level.
Three months after the study, a survey will be sent to the participants to check if the benefits have persisted.
236 studies on the registry are indexed under Occupational Stress; 64 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 145 is above the median of 89 across 167 interventional studies indexed under Occupational Stress.
Browse Occupational Stress studies →Charite University, Berlin, Germany is the lead sponsor of 836 studies on the registry; 129 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion criteria
In the intervention phase of the N-of-1 trial participants are instructed to perform box breathing intervention. During the control phase of the N-of-1 trial, participants are instructed to proceed with their daily activities as usual without engaging in the anti-stress intervention.
Behavioral: Box Breathing · Behavioral: Everyday life control
In the intervention phase of the N-of-1 trial participants are instructed to perform the guided breathing and mindfulness exercise. During the control phase of the N-of-1 trial, participants are instructed to proceed with their daily activities as usual without engaging in the anti-stress intervention.
Behavioral: Breathing and Mindfulness Exercise · Behavioral: Everyday life control
Participants are guided to find a quite and comfortable spot to sit and unwind. They are then directed to inhale deeply for four seconds, hold that breath for another four seconds, and then exhale slowly over four seconds. Following a brief four-second pause, they begin the next cycle of breathing. To assist with this exercise, participants will have access to a video featuring a red dot tracing a square pattern, moving at the pace needed for the breathing technique.
Also known as: Tactical Breathing
The second intervention involves a 10-minute session of guided breathing exercises that blend elements of mindfulness meditation with gentle body movements and controlled breathing. Participants are advised to find a quiet space, sit comfortably, and adopt an upright posture. They are then led through a series of brief exercises, incorporating mild stretches for the upper body and focused, mindful breathing.
Participants are instructed to not perform the anti-stress intervention and to proceed with their daily activities as usual.
Daily perceived stress
Participants are asked to answer the following question on an analog scale from 1 ("not at all") to 10 ("extremely"): "Overall, how stressful was your day?"
Time frame: daily on day 1 to day 28 of the study
Daily expectation of perceived stress level on the following day
Participants are asked to answer the following question on an analog scale from 1 ("not at all") to 10 ("extremely"): "Which level of stress do you expect for the following day?"
Time frame: daily on day 1 to day 28 of the study
Level of agreement between expected and actually perceived level of stress
By subtracting the expected from the actually experienced level of stress, the level of agreement will be assessed.
Time frame: daily on day 1 to day 28 of the study
Compliance with the study protocol: number of participant reported outcomes
Compliance with the study protocol will be assessed by counting the number of participant reported outcomes documented.
Time frame: After 4 weeks
Compliance with the study protocol: number of performed anti-stress interventions
Compliance with the study protocol will be assessed by counting the number of anti-stress interventions completed over the entire duration of the study.
Time frame: After 4 weeks
Successful study completion
Successful completion of the study will be assessed based on the minimum required number of results reported by participants during the study period to be included in the final statistical analysis.
Time frame: After 4 weeks
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Plan to share: Yes
This study is completed, as verified in Dec 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Charite University, Berlin, Germany