Online Wellness Intervention in Medical Students

Assessing the Effectiveness of a 12-week Online Wellness Intervention in Medical Students: a Pre-Post Single-arm Interventional Study

Medical students are at high risk of stress. This project will test how well a 12-week stress reduction program works to reduce stress, anxiety and depression and improve well-being. The program is delivered online and each week is made of an introduction video, 7-8 minutes of yoga, 5-7 minutes of meditation and nutrition tips. At the beginning and the end of the 12-week research study, we will be using surveys to ask students about their stress, anxiety, depression, sense of control over their own life, quality of life, and pain levels. After the program, the research team will conduct interviews with the medical student to allow them to share their other feedback about the program. The researchers will also send surveys to the medical students one month after the program ends to asses their continued satisfaction with and adherence to the program.

The degree to which situations in one's life are appraised as stressful will be assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale. The minimum score is 0, the maximum score is 40, and higher scores indicate a worse outcome.

The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) will be used to measure depression. The minimum score is 0, the maximum is 27, and higher scores indicate a worse outcome.

The Psychological Wellbeing Scale will be sued to measure well being. Higher scores mean higher levels of psychological well-being

Depression and anxiety will be measured on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The minimum value is 0, the maximum is 21, and higher scores mean a worse outcome.

Inclusion Criteria: - Medical students in any year of medical school Exclusion Criteria: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Depression score >10 Active psychosis Post-traumatic stress disorder or frequent suicidal ideation Major medical co-morbidity Inability to provide written informed consent