Using behavior change plans to improve medical student self-care.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To describe an innovative approach to teaching medical students the principles and practice of health behavior change and self-care using a behavior change plan (BCP).

Method

Second-year medical students at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (n = 343) took a required Healthy Living unit in 2008 or 2009. They completed a BCP project in which they selected a personal behavior to change (exercise, nutrition, sleep, personal habits/hygiene, study/work habits, or mental/emotional health), set a goal, tracked progress, and self-assessed success. The authors employed a one-group posttest-only design to conduct a quantitative analysis and a qualitative evaluation of students' BCPs and their attitudes concerning the project.

Results

Among the 343 stude

SUBMITTER: Kushner RF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3128665 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature