The Potential of Real-Time Behavior and Well-Being Assessments to Improve Medical Student Wellness
Ankrish Milne1, Alexandra Novelli2, Carly Watson3
1A. Milne is a medical student, Larner College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont; ankrish.milne@med.uvm.edu.
Problem:
Medical students experience psychological distress more frequently than age-matched peers. Tracking medical student well-being has typically been limited to once- or twice-per-year questionnaires. Ongoing, real-time assessment of student behavior and well-being could facilitate individualized, timely interventions.
Approach:
Faculty at the University of Vermont, in conjunction with the Larner College of Medicine Office of Medical Education, developed a novel smartphone app in 2021 called WE MD to track and support medical student wellness. The app included the following features: (1) nightly surveys assessing wellness-related behaviors (e.g., social interaction, sleep, exercise) and outcomes (i.e., mood, focus, stress, overall well-being); (2) health reports that enabled users to graph various combinations of their own behaviors and outcomes, allowing them to visualize trends and understand possible correlations between behaviors and outcomes; (3) a resource library with articles and educational videos related to specific wellness behaviors or outcomes; and (4) research-based "insights" or brief tips intended to promote healthy habits. Participants also received virtual "coins" for interacting with the app that could be exchanged for various items in an online store.
Outcomes:
The WE MD program enrolled a substantial portion of the medical school population (43%); most of the students used the app on a regular basis. Students found the app to be acceptable and appreciated many features and also provided feedback on how to improve the app. Information from the nightly survey data converged with established measures but also identified variability over time in wellness behaviors and outcomes.
Next Steps:
Data from the WE MD program suggest that app-based daily tracking of wellness behaviors and outcomes is a feasible, promising approach to promote student wellness and identify real-time patterns and risk periods for medical students. The app will be revised based on student feedback and adapted for use by students, residents, and faculty.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:30Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...
01:25Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques III
The Role of Exercise in Stress Management
Regular physical activity is essential for reducing stress and promoting cardiovascular health. Exercise strengthens the heart, enhances blood flow, keeps blood vessels flexible, and helps lower blood pressure, all of which reduce the body's stress response. Research shows that adults who exercise regularly have nearly half the...