The Wellness Scale: Evaluating the impact of an innovative tool to support medical student wellbeing on clinical placement
by Lowri Bowen
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Background
In an increasingly pressurised NHS, there are growing calls for medical schools to ensure that the doctors of the future are resilient practitioners (1). There are rising rates of mental health issues amongst all university students (2), and medical students are less likely to seek help than other students despite higher prevalence of mental health concerns (1). Potential barriers to addressing medical students’ wellbeing include the lack of recognition that they need support and not knowing how to access help.
Method
We developed a Wellness Scale for medical students on clinical placement in Gloucestershire. This asks them to identify which of four discrete categories best describes their status, using relevant descriptors of: well; stressed; becoming unwell; or unwell. The document also includes signposting towards relevant support.
Results
The students’ feedback indicated they felt the Scale was “accessible”, encouraging them that it is “acceptable and normal to get help”. Every student said they felt it improved their confidence with identifying their level of mental health. Thematic analysis of the focus group discussion has shown themes of accessibility, resilience and mentorship.
Conclusion/Next steps
Our students view the Wellness Scale as a useful tool that enhances their confidence in both ascertaining their level of wellness and finding appropriate avenues of support. We believe that introducing our Wellness Scale has initiated a useful step in encouraging students to take ownership of their own mental health. We hope to continue developing the document and expand its use to include students across all years on placement within our Trust.
References
- Peters D, Horn C, Gishen F. Ensuring our future doctors are resilient. BMJ. 2018;362.
- Minding our future: starting a conversation about the support of student mental health. 11 May 2018. [Accessed 25.09.18] Available from: https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/minding-our-future."