Randomised Controlled Trial of Gratitude Reporting vs no Intervention on Well-being of Medical Students During Clerkship

Detailed Summary

Clerkship causes significant stress to medical students. Some interventions to increase well-being have been described but none have been studied prospectively in this context. The primary objective of this study is to examine the effects of gratitude journaling on medical clerks' perceived well-being. Students will be randomised to one of two groups: gratitude journaling or no intervention. The participants of the experimental group will be asked to complete an online gratitude journal 3 times per week and will be compared to the participants in the control group. The students in both groups will answer a standardised questionnaire evaluating well-being before and after their surgical rotation. Those randomised to the intervention group will perform gratitude journaling three times a week during their surgical rotation. This activity consists of writing something that made them feel happy during their day. Those randomised in the control group (no intervention) will proceed with their normal rotation, without additional gratitude journaling. The main outcome will be evaluated by comparing the well-being at the end of the surgical rotation as evaluated by a composite well-being assessment scale between both groups.

Study Details

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Interventions