Practical Tips for Implementing a Student-Led Reflective Writing Workshop Series

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Student Well-being

Background:

• Medical students often experience burnout, empathy loss, and depression during clinical clerkships.
• These challenges can negatively impact student well-being and professional development.
• Reflective practice is a potential strategy to mitigate these adverse effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a student-led reflective writing workshop designed for medical students.
• To provide practical guidance for implementing such workshops.
• To highlight the benefits of reflective writing and near-peer teaching in medical education.

Main Methods:

• A student-led reflective writing workshop was developed and implemented in a small group setting.
• Twelve implementation tips were derived from literature on reflective writing and near-peer teaching.
• Workshop content focused on common student experiences like patient suffering and workplace dynamics.

Main Results:

• Participants engaged in processing challenging clinical experiences through writing.
• The workshop fostered camaraderie and peer support among medical students.
• Students gained tools for ongoing emotional processing and coping.

Conclusions:

• Student-led reflective writing workshops are a feasible and beneficial intervention for medical students.
• Such workshops can help ameliorate negative psychological effects of clerkships.
• This approach supports the development of resilience and coping mechanisms in future physicians.