The objective of this work is to monitor the level of stress and overload of a group of front-line health workers (physicians, nurses and physiotherapists) who will participate in the care of patients with COVID-19 at Hospital das Clínicas in Ribeirão Preto and its Emergency Unit (HCRP), for four weeks, and evaluate the cannabidiol - CBD's effectiveness in reducing stress for those who wish to use it.
The Bonsai study is a two-arm, parallel-group, individually randomized (1:1 allocation
ratio), controlled with general measures (supporting motivational videos, fitness videos),
participant and investigator unblinded, evaluator by phone will be blinded, single-site
superiority trial of oral CBD 300 mg daily for 28 days to prevent burnout and distress in
health care workers dealing with SARS-CoV-2 exposure. At 28 days, there is an open-label
extension wherein all participants are offered a 28 days course of CBD 300mg daily. The
objective of this work is to monitor the level of stress and overload of a group of
front-line health workers (physicians, nurses and physiotherapists) who will participate in
the care of patients with COVID-19 at Hospital das Clínicas in Ribeirão Preto and its
Emergency Unit (HCRP), for four weeks, and evaluate the CBD's effectiveness in reducing
stress for those who wish to use it.
This research intends to :
1. Assess the level of stress and emotional overload of front-line health workers
(physicians, nurses and physiotherapists) during their performance in the pandemic
caused by COVID-19.
2. Assess whether the daily use of CBD 300 mg, for four weeks, reduces the level of stress,
during the period of performance of professionals in the care of patients with COVID-19.
3. Assess whether the daily use of CBD 300 mg, for four weeks, will modify inflammatory
parameters, such as cytokines, measured from the serum of professionals in the care of
patients with COVID-19.
4. Assess whether the daily use of CBD 300 mg, for four weeks, prevents depression, burnout
and Acute Stress Disorder and PTSD.
5. Assess the possible adverse effects of using CBD
Drug: Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol 300 mg daily for 4 weeks
Other Name: general clinical supportive measures
Inclusion Criteria:
1. age between 24 and 60 years old
2. Research participants of both sexes.
3. HCFMRP physicians, nurses and physiotherapists involved in the care of patients who
have undergone screening and present at least one symptom, which may be related to
infection by COVID-19.
4. Good health conditions and without conditions that characterize them as belonging to
the risk groups associated with COVID infection19.
5. Research participants with the potential to become pregnant may be included in the
study as long as they are sexually abstinent or using a contraceptive method
considered effective.
6. Signature of the Free and Informed Consent Term approved (ICF) by the Research Ethics
Committee (CEP) and CONEP.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Using any medication with potential interaction with CBD or with a history of
undesirable reactions prior to the use of this cannabinoid.
2. Physicians, nurses and physiotherapists with occasional contact with patients with
COVID-19 and who are not responsible for the continuous monitoring of these patients.
3. Although in the HC-FMRP-USP care allocation policy, professionals who are eventually
more susceptible to complications from the new coronavirus will be relocated to not
attend patients with COVID19, it will be checked again to exclude patients with
chronic diseases: diabetes, hypertension, lung disease like asthma or COPD;
hematological diseases, chronic kidney disease and immunodepression.
4. Professionals over 60 years old
5. Female research participants who become pregnant or male participants who have their
pregnant partner during the research project
Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto - USP
Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
Jose A. Crippa, MD; PhD, Principal Investigator
University of Sao Paulo