The School of Medicine will launch a self care and stress management package this week for all medical students.
The School values student well-being and is committed to develop programs to support self care and stress management strategies.
A randomised controlled trial was undertaken in 2009 to determine whether mindfulness practice can 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 have been 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 at iTunes.