Stress Reduction Program for Iraqi Medical Students

NCT07451145 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: IQ. UTQ. MED. 2025. 0081Ethics approval IQ. UTQ. MED.
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 135
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

A 4-week stress reduction program for medical students during exams, measuring effects on stress, heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones (ACTH, cortisol, DHEA).

Conditions

Psychological Stress; Academic Stress

Keywords

ACTH; Cortisol; DHEA; HPA axis; Stress reduction; Stress management; Mindfulness; Medical students; Academic stress; Psychological stress; Neuroendocrine; Iraq; Examination stress; Behavioral intervention; Stress hormones

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Perceived Stress Score

  Perceived Stress Score (0-10 visual analog scale)

  Baseline and 4 weeks

• ACTH Levels

  Measure: Levels (pg/mL)

  Baseline and 4 weeks

• Cortisol Levels

  Measure: Cortisol Levels (µg/dL)

  Baseline and 4 weeks

• DHEA Levels

  Measure: DHEA Levels (ng/mL)

  Baseline and 4 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Heart Rate

  Baseline and 4 weeks

• Blood Pressure

  Baseline and 4 weeks

Study Arms (1)

Stress Reduction Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

All 135 participants receive a 4-week mindfulness-based stress reduction program consisting of 8 group sessions (90 minutes each, twice weekly) plus daily home practice (15-20 minutes). Measurements taken at baseline and 4 weeks.

Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program

Interventions

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program BEHAVIORAL

Culturally adapted 4-week stress reduction program including: * 8 group sessions (2 per week, 90 minutes each) * Mindfulness meditation techniques * Progressive muscle relaxation * Breathing exercises * Psychoeducation about stress * Daily home practice (15-20 minutes) * Led by trained facilitators

Stress Reduction Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• \- Medical students at University of Thi-Qar College of Medicine
• Currently enrolled and preparing for examinations
• Age 18 years or older
• Willing to participate in 8 intervention sessions
• Able to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Current use of medications affecting HPA axis or cardiovascular function
• Diagnosed chronic medical or psychiatric conditions
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Previous participation in formal mindfulness or stress management training

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Thi-Qar: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Thi-Qar College of Medicine

Nasiriyah, Thi-Qar, 64001, Iraq

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress, Psychological

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology

Model Details: Single-group pre-post intervention study. All 135 participants received an identical 8-session mindfulness-based stress reduction program delivered over 4 weeks. Outcome measures (stress, ACTH, cortisol, DHEA, heart rate, blood pressure) were assessed at baseline before the intervention and again at 4 weeks after program completion.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 27, 2026
• First Posted: March 5, 2026
• Study Start: October 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: January 1, 2025
• Study Completion: January 1, 2025
• Last Updated: March 5, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: Beginning 6 months and ending 5 years following article publication
• Access Criteria: Requests directed to adelgassab@utq.edu.iq. Requestors must provide methodologically sound proposal and sign data access agreement.

Locations

IR (1)