A student-driven mindfulness curriculum for first-year osteopathic medical students: a pilot study
Christina Nielsen1, Sabrina Katz1, Meriah Parker1
1A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, Mesa, AZ, USA.
Journal of Osteopathic Medicine
|July 12, 2023
Summary
Student-led mindfulness activities effectively reduced stress for participating medical students. Yoga and breathing techniques were most popular, indicating potential for stress management in medical education.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Mindfulness Interventions
- Student Well-being
Background:
- Medical education is inherently stressful, impacting student health.
- Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) show promise but their use in student-led undergraduate medical education is understudied.
Observation:
- First-year osteopathic medical students participated in 8 weeks of student-selected, student-led mindfulness activities.
- Activities included yoga, 4-7-8 breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and values affirmation.
- Surveys assessed participation, stress reduction, satisfaction, and out-of-session practice.
Findings:
- Active participation in mindfulness activities correlated with reduced stress levels (p<0.03).
- Students who participated were 16.6 times more likely to report stress reduction.
- Yoga postures and the 4-7-8 breathing technique were highly rated for stress reduction and satisfaction.
Implications:
- Student-led mindfulness activities show potential for mitigating stress in medical students.
- Further research is needed to optimize the implementation of mindfulness curricula in medical education.
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