Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Heart Rate Variability for Practitioner Stimulated Reflection and Decision-making Optimisation

This study aims to understand how nurses' stress levels, measured by their heart rate variability (HRV), influence their decision-making in busy intensive care units (ICUs). Modern ICUs produce a lot of patient data, which can sometimes overwhelm nurses and delay their responses. Researchers believe that by giving nurses feedback on their HRV, they can learn to manage stress better, make quicker and more accurate decisions, and improve patient safety and care, particularly for patients using breathing machines. The study will track changes in nurses' HRV, their response times to alarms, and patient outcomes related to breathing support.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Enrolment target

Start

16 Jul 2026

Estimated completion

01 Jun 2027

Critical Care Nursing Decision Making Mechanical Ventilation Cognition Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

What is this study about?

This study is looking at how nurses in intensive care units (ICUs) make important decisions, especially for patients who are very unwell and need support from breathing machines. In busy ICUs, nurses get a lot of information and data very quickly. Sometimes, there's so much information and so many alarms that it can be hard for nurses to decide what's most important right away. This can delay their response to a patient's needs.

Researchers believe that a nurse's stress levels can affect how well they make these critical decisions. They can measure stress using something called Heart Rate Variability (HRV), which looks at the tiny changes in the time between each heartbeat. Your HRV can give an idea of how well your body is coping with stress and how prepared it is to react quickly.

This study will give nurses feedback on their HRV throughout their working day. The idea is that by understanding their own stress levels better, nurses can learn to manage them and improve their decision-making skills. The researchers hope this will lead to better, safer care for patients, reduce delays in responding to alarms, and improve the care for patients on breathing machines.

Key takeaways

Aims to improve critical care nurses' decision-making.
Uses Heart Rate Variability (HRV) as a measure of stress.
Hopes to reduce delays and improve patient safety in ICUs.
Involves nurses at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Focuses on improving responses to alarms and breathing machine care.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a nurse who works in the Enhanced Recovery Unit at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. You also need to be willing to take part in all aspects of the research.

However, some people won't be able to join. If you have a permanent pacemaker fitted, you won't be suitable. Also, if you are taking any medication that is known to affect your heart rate variability (like certain blood pressure medications called beta-blockers), you won't be able to participate. This is because these things could change your HRV readings, making it harder for the researchers to get accurate results related to stress and decision-making.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a nurse working in the Enhanced Recovery Unit at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust?
Are you willing to participate fully in the study?
Do you have a permanent pacemaker fitted?
Are you currently taking any medication (like beta-blockers) that might affect your heart rate?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you take part in this study, you will be involved in a learning program designed to help you explore your work practices. This will include receiving feedback on your heart rate variability (HRV) during two specific periods of the study. The study aims to help you understand how your body reacts to stress at work and how that might affect your decisions. There won't be any medication involved for you as a participant. The total duration of your participation will include these two intervention periods, where you'll be actively learning and receiving feedback.

Potential risks and benefits

A potential benefit of joining this study is that you might gain a better understanding of how stress affects your body and your decision-making at work. This could help you improve your professional performance and patient care. There are no known physical risks to participating, as it primarily involves monitoring your natural heart rate and engaging in learning discussions. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your employment or care.

Locations (1)

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Verified postcode
Cambridge, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is Heart Rate Variability (HRV)?

HRV looks at the tiny differences in the time between your heartbeats. It's a way to measure how your body reacts to stress and how ready it is to adapt.

Why is this study focusing on nurses?

Nurses in intensive care make many rapid and important decisions. This study wants to see how their stress levels affect these decisions and if supporting them can improve patient care.

Will this study make me change how I work?

The goal is to help you reflect on your practice using feedback about your body's stress responses, hopefully leading to improvements in how you make decisions.

Will my patient information be used?

The study will look at general patient outcomes and alarm responses, but not your specific patient's confidential details. The main focus is on the nurse's responses.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Yes, you can choose to stop participating in the study at any point, and you don't need to give a reason.

How to find out more

Clinical Project Manager

jeong-min.chun@nhs.net 01223638000 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.