The School of Medicine values student well-being and is committed to developing programs to support self care and stress management strategies.
A randomised controlled trial was undertaken in 2009 to determine whether mindfulness practice could reduce the stress of senior medical students at the University of Tasmania.
The intervention was an audio CD of guided mindfulness practice designed and produced for the trial.
The results found use of the intervention significantly reduced stress and anxiety in medical students.
The results of this study were published in the April edition of Medical Education:
Warnecke, E., Quinn, S., Ogden, K., Towle, N., & Nelson, M. R. (2011). A randomised controlled trial of the effects of mindfulness practice on medical student stress levels. Medical Education, 45(4), 381-388.
The Medical Editor of Medical Education interviewed Dr Emma Warnecke about the trial and its implications.
The podcast is available to listen to with iTunes.