Clinical trial NCT06003920: Outcomes of a Small Process Group on Medical Students' Grit, Resilience, and Stress
Official title: Outcomes of a Small Process Group on Medical Students' Grit, Resilience, and Stress: A Quasi-experimental Pilot Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Stress
Keywords: medical students
stress
grit
resilience
Lead sponsor: Western University of Health Sciences
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-08-22
Enrollment: 16
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Brief summary: The incidence of burnout and mental ill-health begins very early in medical school and continues to be high throughout training. Medical students are under high amounts of stress, which often becomes chronic, and can lead to both physical and psychological issues as a student, resident, and physician. Chronic stress and burnout in medical students are not a new phenomenon, but recent research has highlighted the worsening mental health of medical students, with as high as three-quarters of students reporting mental ill-health. It is vital that ways are found to reduce burnout and assist in improving the mental health of medical students. This quasi-experimental study aimed to assess the effect of a small process group vs. a control group of preclinical medical students on their stress, resilience, and grit.

Detailed description: The investigators assessed the effects of a year-long small process group intervention, led by a psychiatrist, which aimed to improve self-awareness, mindfulness, and resilience in first and second-year medical students. Students self-selected into the process group, and the same number were randomly recruited as controls from the rest of the preclinical student body. The psychiatrist who led the groups was blinded to student participation in the study. Students in the process and control groups were surveyed with the Perceived Stress Scale, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Grit Scale in September 2022, and again after nine months and 25 sessions, in May 2023, after the academic year. Statistical analysis was done with R Studio. Bandura's theory of self-efficacy was used to conceptualize the study. Recruitment was done by email, as was data collection. The intervention included guided exploration of the psychodynamic process, group dynamic theory, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, boundaries, and empathy.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. The participant must be an enrolled student at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-NW
2. Participant must be in their first or second year of medical school
3. Participant must be at least 18 years of age
4. Participant must self-select into either the intervention group or control group
5. Participant must sign informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Data will be excluded if a student goes on a LOA during the course of the year
2. Data will be excluded if a student does not attend a minimum of 12 out of 25 small group sessions
3. Student does not give informed consent
4. Student withdraws consent at any time

Primary outcomes:
measure: Perceived Stress Scale-14
timeFrame: 34 weeks
measure: Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-25
timeFrame: 34 weeks
measure: The Grit Scale
timeFrame: 34 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Medication or diagnosis change
timeFrame: 34 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Lebanon
country: United States
facility: College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific - Northwest
state: Oregon
Study officials:
affiliation: Western University of Health Sciences
name: Edie L Sperling, DPT
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: