Meditation Program for First Year Medical Undergraduate Students: A Feasibility Study

Abstract

attempts at incorporating them in the daily routines of medical students have been lacking. In Raj Yoga Meditation (RYM), the steps for meditation are clear and explicit, so it is easy to practice. The study aimed to assess the feasibility of daily practice of RYM by medical undergraduates and find out if there is an improvement in the mental health and stress levels of the participants. Methods: We chose 80 students randomly from two first-year MBBS batches. All students completed the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and the Medical Students Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ) before and after one month of meditation practice. The participants then gave written feedback for program evaluation. Results: Statistical analysis of the mean GHQ, MSSQ I, and MSSQ IV scores showed a highly significant decline after the intervention compared to preintervention levels. There was also a statistically significant decrease in the number of students with a GHQ score >=3.Qualitative analysis showed that with daily practice of RYM, students developed the ability to handle stress and liked the technique of RYM. Conclusion: It is feasible to conduct a supervised meditation program for a month for undergraduate students. ABSTRACT