Assessing the efficacy of an individualized psychological flexibility skills training intervention app for medical student burnout and well-being: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

• Main Authors: Ditton, Elizabeth, Knott, Brendon, Hodyl, Nicolette, Horton, Graeme, Walker, Frederick Rohan, Nilsson, Michael
• Other Authors: Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Science::Medicine; Burnout; Psychological
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/171107
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Medical student burnout is a prevalent problem with adverse long-term outcomes. Incorporating psychological resource-building interventions into comprehensive burnout prevention approaches during medical training is an identified priority among educators. These interventions could reduce burnout risk by buffering students against nonmodifiable career stressors. However, there is a need for rigorous investigation into optimal intervention targets and methods. Psychological flexibility (PF) is an adaptive behavioral skill set that has demonstrated relationships with medical student burnout and well-being. More broadly, there is evidence that PF mediates burnout and well-being outcomes and may be a protective factor. Efficacy studies assessing the benefits of interventions targeting PF among medical students are needed. Research also supports the need to establish optimal methods for increasing intervention efficacy in the context of individual differences in burnout and PF by using individualized approaches.