Measuring wellbeing: A scoping review of metrics and studies measuring medical student wellbeing across multiple timepoints

Abstract

Purpose

Studies have demonstrated poor mental health in medical students. However, there is wide variation in study design and metric use, impairing comparability. The authors aimed to examine the metrics and methods used to measure medical student wellbeing across multiple timepoints and identify where guidance is necessary.

Methods

Five databases were searched between May and June 2021 for studies using survey-based metrics among medical students at multiple timepoints. Screening and data extraction were done independently by two reviewers. Data regarding the manuscript, methodology, and metrics were analyzed.

Results

221 studies were included, with 109 observational and 112 interventional studies. There were limited studies (15.4%) focused on clinical students. Stress management interventions were the most common (40.2%). Few (3.57%) interventional studies followed participants longer than 12 months, and 38.4% had no control group. There were 140 unique metrics measuring 13 constructs. 52.1% of metrics were used only once.

Conclusions

Unique guidance is needed to address gaps in study design as well as unique challenges surrounding medical student wellbeing surveys. Metric use is highly variable and future research is necessary to identify metrics specifically validated in medical student samples that reflect the diversity of today’s students.

Keywords:

• Measurement of wellbeing
• medical student wellbeing
• wellbeing metrics

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge Janet Rothney, MLIS for her assistance with the literature search.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Henry Li

Henry Li, MD, is a second-year resident, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Tushar Upreti

Tushar Upreti, BSc, is a third-year medical student, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Victor Do

Victor Do, MD, is a third-year resident, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto Temerty Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Erica Dance

Erica Dance, MD, is a Clinical Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Melanie Lewis

Melanie Lewis, MD, MMedEd, is the Chief Wellness Officer and Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Ryan Jacobson

Ryan Jacobson, M.Ed, R.Psyc, is a psychologist, Office of Advocacy and Wellbeing, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Aviva Goldberg

Aviva Goldberg, MD, MSc, is Associate Dean for UGME Student Affairs, Max Rady College of Medicine, and Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.