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The effects of mindfulness-based interventions for health and social care undergraduate students - a systematic review of the literature.

Psychology, health & medicine
August 1, 2017
Michelle O'Driscoll et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on reducing stress and improving mental health in health and social care undergraduate students.

Results Summary

Short-term benefits related to stress and mood were reported, though most studies used condensed curricula. Gender and personality were identified as potential influencing factors, but long-term follow-up is needed for definitive conclusions.

Population

Health and social care undergraduate students (medicine, nursing, psychology).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (2)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Mindfulness-Based Interventions
decrease
stress
health and social care undergraduate students
-
reduced
#1
Mindfulness-Based Interventions
increase
mood
health and social care undergraduate students
-
reported short term benefits relating to
#2
Abstract

Health and social care undergraduate students experience stress due to high workloads and pressure to perform. Consequences include depression and burnout. Mindfulness may be a suitable way to reduce stress in health and social care degree courses. The objective of this systematic review is to identify and critically appraise the literature on the effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions for health and social care undergraduate students. PubMed, EMBASE, Psych Info, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library and Academic Search Complete were searched from inception to 21st November 2016. Studies that delivered Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, or an intervention modelled closely on these, to health or social care undergraduate students were included. Eleven studies, representing medicine, nursing and psychology students met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly used measurement tools were; the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire. Short term benefits relating to stress and mood were reported, despite all but one study condensing the curriculum. Gender and personality emerged as factors likely to affect intervention results. Further research with long-term follow-up is required to definitively conclude that mindfulness is an appropriate intervention to mentally prepare health and social care undergraduate students for their future careers.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AffectBurnout, ProfessionalCognitionCognitive Behavioral TherapyCurriculumDepressionFemaleHumansMaleMindfulnessStudents, Health OccupationsSurveys and Questionnaires
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations43
Citations/Year5.4
Relative Citation Ratio3.41
NIH Percentile87.5%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.10
Normalized Score0.66
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