Project title
A randomised controlled trial evaluating whether Reboot (REcovery BOOsTing cognitive-behavioural coaching) can improve burnout and mental health in medical students
Country
UK
Background
The healthcare system faces a critical workforce crisis, with medical students experiencing high rates of mental health challenges. This project offers the first targeted intervention to support these students by addressing their unique stressors through tailored workshops and coaching.
Previous studies show this intervention may improve resilience and reduce burnout. This research aims to rigorously prove the intervention's effectiveness, with a view to potentially helping to:
- reduce physician shortages
- decrease sickness absence
- enhance patient care.
By supporting medical students' mental health, this intervention could help break the cycle of workforce burnout and turnover.
Summary
A hundred students will receive the intervention, which includes two online small group workshops (two hours each) and one individual coaching call with the workshop facilitator, who is a qualified psychological therapist. It will be evaluated using a randomised controlled trial (RCT) design. While previous studies have examined this intervention, this study will be the first to establish whether any improvements seen in people who undertake the intervention can be confidently attributed to the intervention itself.
Outcome
This study will be the first to establish whether this intervention leads to positive changes in psychological resilience, confidence in coping with adverse events, burnout and depression symptoms in medical students. If findings are positive, it will pave the way for widespread delivery of this intervention for UK medical students, with the possibility of further international research to adapt the intervention for medical students globally.