Accelerated Education Intervention: A Pilot Study to Assess the Effectiveness of a Brief, Self-Paced Intervention to...

Physician assistant (PA) programs have an academically rigorous curriculum, which places a myriad of pressures on students and contributes to burnout. The benefits of optimal quality and quantity of sleep are well documented, yet students still view sacrificing sleep as a necessary step in academic success. The purpose of this pilot study was to create behavior changes to promote optimal sleep hygiene in PA school and decrease measurements of burnout.

39 PA students from a single institution volunteered to take part in an 8-week study. Wrist actigraphy was used to measure students' sleeping habits, resting heart rate, and physical activity. Additionally, the students completed a questionnaire regarding stimulant and sleep aid use and burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory) at two time points. The intervention was 8 weeks in duration split into 2, 4-week blocks separated by a 1-hour, evidence-based education intervention to promote beneficial behavior change and sleep hygiene.

Sleep duration, wake time, and bedtime remained consistent across the study period with no changes post-intervention (p > 0.05). Moderate to high levels of cynicism and emotional exhaustion were seen in more than three-quarters of students. There was no relationship between sleep duration and exam scores, heart rate, or steps. Shorter sleep duration predicted increased emotional exhaustion and cynicism (p < 0.05).

Sleeping habits influence emotional well-being and are likely minimally affected by educational interventions alone. Combatting the high prevalence of burnout in PA schools can begin with targeting environmental and policy-level changes that can influence student recovery and well-being opportunities throughout the academic year.