Examining the Effect of a Group-Based Stress Management Course on Empowering the Mental Health of Medical Faculty Students and Resident Physicians: A Randomized Controlled Study

NCT07679503 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: EskisehirOU 04.11.2025/29
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 180
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Physicians and medical students have higher rates of depression, anxiety, burnout, and suicide risk than the general population, and this disparity often begins early, even during medical school. Despite substantial distress, help-seeking is frequently limited due to stigma concerns, career fears, and time constraints, which may allow mental health problems to progress unnoticed and become chronic. Preventive interventions during medical education may reduce current distress and help avert more severe disorders later in professional life. Group-based psychoeducation is a cost-effective approach with advantages such as scalability, peer support, and learning benefits without requiring personal disclosure. The WHO Self-Help Plus (SH+) program is an ACT-informed, easily deliverable group stress management course, and randomized controlled trials across settings suggest SH+ can reduce psychological distress and depressive symptoms while improving coping skills and resilience. In Türkiye, evidence on group-based interventions for medical students and resident physicians remains limited and focuses mainly on documenting symptom levels rather than testing interventions; therefore, this study aims to evaluate a group-based stress management course and examine the feasibility and cultural adaptation of SH+-like programs in Turkish medical education.

Conditions

Group-based; Self-Help Plus (SH+); Psychoeducational Intervention; Stress Management Course

Keywords

mental health; Self-Help Plus (SH+); Psychological Distress; group intervention; World Health Organization

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - Short Form (DASS-21)

  The DASS-21 is a self-report instrument developed to assess respondents' levels of depression, anxiety, and stress (Lovibond \& Lovibond, 1995).

  1th-30th days

• Suicide Probability Scale - SPS

  The original form of the scale was developed by Cull and Gill (1982) to measure the likelihood of suicide.

  1 th - 30 th days

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index - WHO-5

  1 th - 30 th days

Other Outcomes (2)

• Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)

  1th - 30 th days

• The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support - MSPSS

  1 th - 30 th days

Study Arms (2)

intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

The group will receive 5 sessions of group based stress management program developed by WHO.

Behavioral: self help plus

Waiting list

NO INTERVENTION

Waiting list

Interventions

self help plus BEHAVIORAL

The course is designed to help individuals cope with challenging life events and manage stress. The core components of the SH+ course include focusing attention (grounding), stepping back from distressing thoughts and emotions, acting in line with one's values, practicing kindness (self-compassion), and making space for difficult emotions.

Also known as: sh+, Group based stress management program

intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Being a medical student or a resident physician at Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine
• Being 18 years of age or older

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals with active suicidal ideation
• Individuals with severe mental disorders such as psychotic disorders or bipolar disorder
• Individuals with alcohol or substance dependence
• Students under 18 years of age

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Eskisehir Osmangazi University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Eskişehir Osmangazi University

Eskişehir, 26040, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate professor doctor

Model Details: Randomized controlled study with paralell groups: the intervention group and the waiting list.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 25, 2026
• First Posted: July 1, 2026
• Study Start: January 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2028
• Last Updated: July 1, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)