The effects of a mindfulness programme on self-rated stress levels in health care students compared to students of other subjects: a structured literature review of randomised controlled trials.
Item
- Title
- The effects of a mindfulness programme on self-rated stress levels in health care students compared to students of other subjects: a structured literature review of randomised controlled trials.
- Author(s)
- Platteau, L
- Abstract
- Background Stress is the physiological response to a physical/psychological threat. If prolonged, increased stress levels (ISL) could arise and produce physical/psychological symptoms. Health care students (HCS) are possibly at higher risk of experiencing ISL than students of other subjects (SOOS). Mindfulness programmes (MP) have been suggested to reduce ISL. Whether HCS or SOOS benefit more from a MP concerning self-rated stress levels (SRSL) has not been explored. Objective The objective of this review was to answer the research question: ‘The effects of a mindfulness programme on self-rated stress levels in health care students compared to students of other subjects: a structured literature review of randomised controlled trials’. By applying the Cochrane risk of bias tool and by evaluating the reported effect sizes (ES). Design A structured literature review. Methods A database search of randomised controlled trials of the last seven years was conducted on four databases by applying keywords. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were subsequently applied to the title, abstract and full text of the retrieved studies. Data were extracted from the included studies and the Cochrane risk of bias tool was applied. The main outcome measure was SRSL. ES’s were evaluated to scrutinise the effects of a MP on SRSL. Results The database search identified twelve eligible studies. Most studies representing HCS had an unclear risk of selection bias, whereas SOOS studies struggled with attrition bias. ES’s for HCS and SOOS were respectively ‘small to moderate’ and ‘small to large’. Discussion Heterogeneity arose from different MP content and use of different self-rated stress scales. ES’s for SOOS were more consistently reported and larger than ES’s for HCS which were as underreported as in the wider HCS literature. HCS were followed-up better. Female dominance could have affected external validity in this review. Conclusion This review concluded that SRSL of SOOS might benefit more from a MP than HCS, even though HCS are thought to be more subjected to ISL. Comparison was limited due to poor ES reporting in HCS studies. Research should clearly report ES’s for HCS and investigate follow-up to gauge long term MP benefit.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2020
- Date Submitted
- 28.10.2020 18:08:19
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16683
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Keywords
- Mindfulness programme, stress levels, stress management, students
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Platteau, L, “The effects of a mindfulness programme on self-rated stress levels in health care students compared to students of other subjects: a structured literature review of randomised controlled trials.”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 5, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.com/s/orw/item/172