Integrating Mindfulness and Physical Exercises for Medical Students: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this systematic review was to appraise the empirical evidence pertaining to medical students and the integration of mindfulness and physical exercise regimens. Methods: A systematic review was undertaken. Five databases were used to survey the salient literature. Results: The initial search identified 353 potentially relevant articles of which 17 articles were considered for the final review. The findings indicated that the research was mainly conducted in the USA with some research originating from Europe, Canada, Jamaica, and India. In addition, a range of research designs were applied to measure or discuss the efficacy of the integrated intervention. Four key categories captured the essence of the results of our review, namely: (1) quality of evidence and research methods; (2) types of interventions; (3) measurement protocols; and (4) benefits of integrating mindfulness and physical exercises. Conclusions: This systematic review demonstrated that when mindfulness and physical exercises are integrated there are likely to be positive health outcomes for medical students. In the studies that yielded the highest level of evidence it was clear that this combination enhanced mental health, and reduced stress levels amongst students, and the benefits may assist with interpersonal development, such as greater empathetic levels and improved interpersonal responsivity.