Impact of a Physical Activity Program on the Mental Health of Medical Students.

Summary

University students frequently adopt a sedentary lifestyle with low levels of physical activity, leading to a deterioration in their health. A significant number of them also suffer from social isolation. Moreover, numerous studies have highlighted the vulnerability of university students (particularly those in medical programs) to mental health issues. Medical students, with their demanding academic curriculum, are no exception to this trend.

A student association at the Lyon Est Faculty of Medicine reported that students' mental health is very low (2022): at least 1 in 2 students has experienced a depressive episode, and 1 in 3 has had suicidal thoughts during their studies. Other recent studies indicate that medical students at Lyon Est exhibit high levels of stress, low self-confidence, and excessive sedentary behavior (ECOSTRESS and ECOSPERF studies, 2021, 2022, and 2023). Unfortunately, in 2024, new mental health surveys among medical students from the second year through the end of their internship continue to confirm these findings.

The SANTE project aims to offer solution to student to a highly effective means of improving both their mental health and their level of physical activity throught an intervention program. More precisely, the goal of this interventional study is to evaluate the impact of a physical activity program on the mental health in second-cycle medical students at the University of Lyon 1. The development of the SANTÉ program was based on (i) data from the literature, (ii) results from a previous local study (IRB No. 2024-07-02-03) that identified student needs through individual interviews and focus groups, and (iii) local findings from a co-construction workshop with students.

Conditions

• Health Behavior
• Health Related Physical Fitness
• Mental Health
• Sedentary Behaviors
• Physical Inactivity
• Medical Student

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

SANTE program

The intervention will consist of distinct period. Fisrt, 3 complete assessment periods will be realized : pre-intervention (week 1-2) ; mid-intervention (week 8-9) ; post-intervention (week 15 - 16) for evaluate the evolution of the health-related behavior, mental and physical health. Second, the SANTE program intervention will be implemented. Intervention 1 (week 3 and 7) for INT-1 group receive the SANTE program and INT-2 group do noting ; Intervention 2 (week 10-14) for INT-2 group receive the SANTE program and INT-1 do noting. The SANTE intervention will consist of (at a minimum): * 1 to 2 group physical activity sessions per week * 1 outdoor outing (full-day or half-day) per month * 1 individual meeting with a physical activity and sports expert

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Research on Healthcare Performance Lab U1290

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Sophie Schlatter, Dr. · RESHAPE U1290 INSERM UCBL-LYON 1 Rockfeller, Lyon France.

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

SINGLE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-02-06

Primary Completion

2026-07-31

Completion

2026-07-31

Countries

• France

Study Locations