Evaluating mindfulness training for medical and PhD nursing students

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Mindfulness Studies

Background:

• Mindfulness training is recognized for enhancing wellbeing, mood, focus, and resilience.
• Healthcare students frequently experience high psychological distress.
• Mindfulness interventions may improve psychological wellbeing in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a mindfulness-based workshop and training on healthcare students.
• To assess changes in psychological wellbeing, cognitive function, and resilience.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods evaluation involving medical and PhD nursing students (n=10).
• Participants attended a mindfulness workshop and five weekly 30-minute training sessions with meditation.
• Data collected via baseline and post-intervention assessments and focus group discussions.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in cognitive mindfulness scores (P=0.02) and resilience (P=0.04).
• Students reported enhanced ability to cope with stress, increased attention, and improved focus.
• Qualitative data revealed themes of sustained practice, improved wellbeing, and academic benefits.

Conclusions:

• Mindfulness training demonstrated significant positive effects on stress coping, attention, and resilience in healthcare students.
• Reported improvements in concentration and focus are likely to mitigate psychological symptoms related to academic pressures.
• While small-scale, the findings suggest mindfulness is a valuable tool for supporting student wellbeing and academic success.