Mindfulness App Versus Mindfulness-based Intervention for Healthcare Students

Mindfulness for Healthcare Students: Smartphone App or Face-to-face Group? A Randomized Controlled Trial

The main purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of a mindfulness-based training app ('REM Volver a Casa') versus a regular, presence-based program (MBSR) on the reduction of anxiety and other factors related to the physician-patient relationship, in healthcare grade students.

Healthcare students suffer from higher levels of anxiety and depression than the general population. It compromises not only their mental health, but also the quality of care provided. Aptitudes such as empathy and self-compassion are essential to improve this deficit and overcome the well-known burnout syndrome.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program has proven to be an effective intervention for lowering stress in numerous studies. However, this intervention asks for a significant degree of personal involvement, thus the number of dropouts is often reported as a problem. New technologies might allow users to adapt training to their personal schedules.

The present randomized trial aims to compare the efficacy of a mindfulness-based training delivered through a mobile application ('REM Volver a Casa'), a presence-based program (MBSR), and a control group in healthcare grade students.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Student of Medicine, Nutrition, Psychology or Nursing.
• Ability to read and understand Spanish language.
• Signature of Informed Consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous MBSR or anorther standardized Mindfulness training.
• Inability to read or understand Spanish language.