Comparison of two different mindfulness interventions among health care students in Finland: a randomised controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the short- and long-term effects of two mindfulness training programs on students' stress and well-being.
Results Summary
Psychological distress increased less in the intervention groups than in the control group post-intervention, but no differences were found at 4-month follow-up. Participants who continued mindfulness practice at least twice weekly reported lower stress levels.
Population
Undergraduate students of medicine, dentistry, psychology, and logopaedics at the University of Helsinki.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Post-intervention and 4-month follow-up
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
face-to-face mindfulness training based on the Mindfulness Skills for Students course | increase | psychological distress | undergraduate students of medicine, dentistry, psychology, and logopaedics | - | increased significantly less | #1 |
web-based Student Compass program using Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment therapy | increase | psychological distress | undergraduate students of medicine, dentistry, psychology, and logopaedics | - | increased significantly less | #2 |
mental health support as usual | increase | psychological distress | undergraduate students of medicine, dentistry, psychology, and logopaedics | - | increased | #3 |
face-to-face mindfulness training based on the Mindfulness Skills for Students course | no change | psychological distress | undergraduate students of medicine, dentistry, psychology, and logopaedics | - | were found no differences | #4 |
web-based Student Compass program using Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment therapy | no change | psychological distress | undergraduate students of medicine, dentistry, psychology, and logopaedics | - | were found no differences | #5 |
practising mindfulness at least twice a week | decrease | stress | participants who continued practising mindfulness | - | were less stressed | #6 |
participating in a mindfulness course | decrease | psychological distress | health care students | - | may mitigate | #7 |
We investigated the short- and long-term effects of two different evidence-based mindfulness training on students' stress and well-being. A randomised controlled trial with three measurement points (baseline, post-intervention, and 4 months post-intervention) was conducted among undergraduate students of medicine, dentistry, psychology, and logopaedics at the University of Helsinki. The participants were randomly assigned into three groups: (1) face-to-face mindfulness training based on the Mindfulness Skills for Students course (n = 40), (2) a web-based Student Compass program using Mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment therapy (n = 22), and (3) a control group that received mental health support as usual (n = 40). The primary outcome was psychological distress measured using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). Secondary outcomes included hair cortisol concentrations and a wide range of well-being indicators. Psychological distress increased in all the groups from baseline to post-intervention, but significantly less so in the intervention groups than in the control group. At 4-month follow-up, were found no differences between the primary outcomes of the control and intervention groups, but the participants who continued practising mindfulness at least twice a week were less stressed than the others. Our results suggest that participating in a mindfulness course may mitigate health care students' psychological distress during the academic year, but only if the participants continue practising mindfulness at least twice a week.