Smartwatch and coach combo tested to shield med students from burnout
NCT ID NCT07342673
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 29, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested whether a digital coaching platform paired with a wearable sensor could help first-year medical students build resilience and reduce burnout. Thirty-six students used the Arena Strive app, had two virtual coaching sessions, and wore a device to track heart rate and sleep. The goal was to see if this approach could improve stress levels, sleep quality, and overall well-being during the intense early years of medical training.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- digital coaching platform with wearable sensors
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, scalable way to help medical students manage stress and avoid burnout before it starts.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small study (36 people) with no control group, so results may not apply broadly. The coaching and wearable approach may not work for everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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36 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2026
- Finished
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May 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * active first year Wake Forest School of Medicine medical students * have an Android or iOS smart phone * are willing to download the Arena Strive application Exclusion Criteria: * under the age of 18; or over the age of 60 * pregnant at enrollment or during course of study * any self-reported cardiac conditions that may impact heart rate and heart rate variability
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
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