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Experiences with a universal mindfulness and well-being programme at a UK medical school

Sarah Stewart-Brown (Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK)
Mizaya Cader (Department of Health, Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka)
Thomas Walker (Department of Respiratory Medicine, Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK)
Sabah Janjua (Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA)
Emma Hanson (Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK)
Anne-Marie Chilton (Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK)

Health Education

ISSN: 0965-4283

Article publication date: 4 June 2018

439

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the evaluation of a universal, mental well-being and mindfulness programme in a UK graduate entry medical school.

Design/methodology/approach

Mixed methods used in the paper were the measurement of mental well-being and mindfulness in two cohorts at three time points over 15 months; descriptive, regression and repeated measures analysis with post hoc pairwise comparisons; qualitative interviews with purposive sample of 13 students after one year analysed thematically; and spontaneous anonymous feedback on the course.

Findings

The course was a surprise to students, and reactions were mixed. Respect for its contents grew over the first year. Most students had actively implemented a well-being strategy by the end of the course, and an estimated quarter was practicing some mindful activity. In the context of an overall decline in well-being and limited engagement with mindfulness practice, increases in mindfulness were protective against this decline in both cohorts (p<001). A small minority of students thought that the course was a waste of time. Their attitudes influenced engagement by their peers. The mindfulness and well-being practices of the facilitators were evident to students and influenced perceived effects.

Research limitations/implications

The uncontrolled nature of this observational study and low response rates to the survey limit conclusions. Further research in other medical education settings is needed.

Practical implications

Results are encouraging, suggesting modest benefit in terms of changing attitudes and practices and a modest protective effect on the well-being of students who engaged.

Originality/value

This is the first study of a universal well-being and mindfulness programme in a UK medical school. Universal programmes are rare and evaluation studies are scarce.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research has been supported by Dr Majid Kahn without whom it would not have been possible to develop this course, Dr Preshila Samaraweera who undertook the initial analyses of the quantitative data and Professor Jill Thistlethwaite who gave invaluable advice on the development of the manuscript. The authors are grateful to the Warwick medical students who participated in the course, provided the data on which the study is based and offered their reflections on the course.

Citation

Stewart-Brown, S., Cader, M., Walker, T., Janjua, S., Hanson, E. and Chilton, A.-M. (2018), "Experiences with a universal mindfulness and well-being programme at a UK medical school", Health Education, Vol. 118 No. 4, pp. 304-319. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-10-2017-0053

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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