Open AccessThe Rural Clinical School of Western Australia Mindfulness Project
Author(s) -
Sarah Moore,
Rita Barbour,
Hanh Ngo,
Craig Sinclair,
Richard Chambers,
Denese Playford,
Kirsten Auret,
Craig Hassed
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the international journal of whole person care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2291-918X
DOI - 10.26443/ijwpc.v7i1.237
Subject(s) - mindfulness , meditation , compassion , mindfulness based stress reduction , stress reduction , intervention (counseling) , clinical psychology , psychology , medicine , medical education , nursing , philosophy , theology , political science , law
Background: Medical students experience high levels of stress during their training. Literature suggests that mindfulness can reduce stress and increase self-compassion levels in medical students. Most mindfulness training programs are delivered face-to-face and require significant time commitments, which can be difficult to achieve for rurally-based students with heavy academic workloads.Aim: We sought to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of a mindfulness training program delivered online to medical students at a Rural Clinical School.Methods: An 8-week online training program was delivered to third year medical students at the Rural Clinical School of Western Australia in 2016.Using quantitative-qualitative mixed-methods approach, we measured the frequency and duration of the participants’ mindfulness meditation practice, and assessed changes in their perceived stress, self-compassion and compassion levels, as well as personal and professional attitudes and behaviours.Results: 47 students were recruited to the study. 50% of participants were practising at least weekly by the end of the 8-week program, and 32% of responding students reported practising at least weekly 6 months following the intervention. There was a statistically significant reduction in participants’ perceived stress levels and a significant increase in self-compassion at 6 month follow up. Participants reported qualitative insights about the personal and professional impact of mindfulness meditation training as well as barriers to practice.