Sedentary Behaviors Reduction and Physical Activity Promotion for Optimal Medical StudentS

Medical students are under great competitive pressure throughout their studies. Our field surveys conducted in 2022 and 2023 at the Lyon Est Faculty of Medicine revealed that 78% of 482 students showed an excessive sedentary lifestyle compared to the threshold set by WHO. It is expected that a low level of physical activity and/or too high a sedentary lifestyle deteriorates significantly their quality of life and their health. In 2014, a British survey of 356 students in Medicine showed that lack of physical activity was an major predictor of burnout symptoms. Numerous studies show that regular physical activity improves the mental health of students and their cognitive performance.

The PROMESS - PHYSICAL ACTIVITY project aims to offer solutions to students to decrease their sedentary behavior and to improve their physical activity level during their medical studies through an intervention program. From a long term perspective, this intervention may also prevent disorders related to inadequate levels of physical activity and/or sedentary behavior. It responds to a demand expressed by students : our previous field study showed that 45% of fourth-year students declared being "very interested and/or interested" in following an intervention that aimed at improving physical activity. The objective of this study is to determine the influence of an intervention based on sedentary behavior reduction and physical activity promotion among medical students.

Our project aims to help future healthcare professionals to adopt health-promoting behaviors during their studies in a preventive approach. This support will be provided through an intervention of physical activity management during their curriculum. Specifically, 4th and 5th-year students at the Faculty of Medicine of Lyon Est will have the opportunity to participate in the PROMESS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY project. This intervention will span 11 weeks. At the end of this period, we expect improvements in both subjective and objective indicators of physical activity and sedentary.

METHODS.

PRE-INTERVENTION. Week 1-3. Students will undergo a two-hour session, during which, they will complete questionnaires on physical activity and sedentary behavior. Bioimpedance measurements will be recorded. Students will also perform three physical fitness tests (vertical jump, maximal isometric strength and endurance). Then, they will wore actimeters to record sedentary behaviors and physical activity levels during three weeks (from week 1 to week 3).

INTERVENTION. From week 5 to week 11. The intervention will consist of three individual sessions, each lasting one hour, with approximately 15 days between each session. Each session includes individual interview between a physical activity expert and the participant (i.e. student).The sessions will be scheduled as follow: week 5 and 6 (session 1), week 7 and 8 (session 2), week 9, 10, and 11 (session 3). During the interview, the expert will realize an initial assessment of student physical activity and sedentary behavior levels and will give personalized goals to student. Subsequent sessions will follow the same structure.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Being a 4th-year or a 5th-year medical student at the Faculty of Medicine Lyon East during the academic year 2023-2024.
* Having read the information note.
* Having signed the written consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

-No exclusion criteria will be applied.