PQ Program Evaluation — Pilot RCT

Protocol 2026P000564 · Slavin Academy funded · Updated Jun 1, 2026 ·
Johanna Lee — PI / first author Jimin Kim — BWH site PI Dan S-K — senior author
Where we are: IRB APPROVED 6/1/2026 — ~4 weeks ahead of target. Consent + recruitment materials stamped in Insight. Build moves to execution with ARC support; recruitment window remains Aug–Sep 2026.
Latest updates

    Milestones

    Work

    Hover any row for detail (owner, effort, notes). Click a group header to collapse it.

    Study at a glance

    PGY4 residents · MGH + BWH n ≤ 60 · optional loved-one dyad Baseline T0 SCS-SF · MBI-GS · PHQ-8 · GAD-7 Randomize 1:1 (by site) PQ program 6 wk · weekly video + daily reps Active control 6 wk · MyCap, time-matched Post T1 (~wk 8–12) Same 4 measures + feasibility / acceptability Unblinded · 1:1 · stratified by site · ~12 wk per participant
    QuestionIs a 6-wk app-based mental-fitness program feasible & acceptable in anesthesiology residents, and what effect sizes does it produce?
    DesignPilot RCT, 2-arm parallel, 1:1, multi-site; participants unblinded, investigators blinded
    BlindingParticipants know their arm; investigators blinded via separation of duties — coord handles all PQ data transfer, not Johanna or Dan
    ComparatorActive control (MyCap), matched for time + attention
    Remuneration$40 (T0) + $60 (T1) = $100 via e-check (per IRB); lifetime PQ access
    TargetJEPM original article (3000 words, 30 refs); present at SEA
    PurposeFeasibility + effect-size data to power a future multi-site efficacy trial

    Outcomes & measures

    Primary Feasibility
    OutcomeSpecific measure
    Recruitment rate% of eligible PGY4 residents who consent
    Dyadic enrollment rate% of consenting residents who enroll a loved one
    Retention rate% of enrolled who complete the T1 assessment
    AdherenceModule completion + daily engagement, from app/platform backend
    Primary Acceptability, appropriateness & feasibility recommended set
    Validated Weiner et al. triad: three 4-item scales, each rated 1 (completely disagree)–5 (completely agree), administered at T1 for both arms. Keeps acceptability cleanly separable from the efficacy signal.
    Measure (4 items, 5-pt)Item stems — "The PQ program…"
    AIM — Acceptability…meets my approval · is appealing to me · I like it · I welcome it
    IAM — Appropriateness…seems fitting · seems suitable · seems applicable · seems like a good match
    FIM — Feasibility…seems implementable · seems possible · seems doable · seems easy to use
    NPS (retained)"How likely are you to recommend this program to a colleague or fellow resident?" (0–10)
    Open-ended (retained)Most beneficial? · Suggested improvements? · Single biggest barrier to completion?
    References. Weiner BJ, et al. Implement Sci. 2017;12:108. PMID 28851459.  ·  Proctor E, et al. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2011;38(2):65–76. PMID 20957426.
    Secondary Preliminary psychological — T0→T1 change by arm (Cohen's d)
    MeasureConstructFormat
    SCS-SFSelf-compassion (planned primary outcome of the future trial)12 items, 5-pt
    MBI-GS (abbrev.)Burnout: exhaustion, cynicism, professional efficacyLikert frequency
    PHQ-8Depressive symptoms8 items, 0–3
    GAD-7Anxiety symptoms7 items, 0–3
    Analysis is descriptive: feasibility/acceptability as percentages; psychological change as effect sizes (Cohen's d, 95% CI). p-values exploratory only (pilot, no a priori power analysis).

    Who's who

    Johanna Lee, MD
    PI & first author
    MGH Anesthesia, Assistant PD. Owns IRB, MyCAP build, recruitment, analysis, and manuscript. Slavin grant PI.
    Jimin Kim, MD
    BWH site PI
    Incoming BWH Anesthesiology PD (7/1/26). Advising + BWH recruitment; limited bandwidth for execution.
    Dan Saddawi-Konefka, MD, MBA
    Senior author / co-I
    Mentor. Methodology, framing, writing, and air cover for resident recruitment via the APD team.
    Julia Smotkin
    ARC coordinator — primary contact
    MGH Anesthesia Research Center. Primary point of contact (6/1). Supports REDCap + MyCap build (testing period before finalize); owns the eCheck/remuneration workflow.
    Ariel Mueller
    ARC Director
    MGH Anesthesia Research Center. Institutional route to coordinator + biostatistician (Slavin-funded); day-to-day now runs through Julia Smotkin.
    Positive Intelligence, Inc.
    Vendor
    Provides the PQ platform free for this and future studies. Data Use Agreement in progress.
    Shirzad Chamine
    External stakeholder
    PQ creator. Not on protocol (kept independent). Milestone-only updates; Dan owns that channel.