Burnout and chronic stress are on the rise globally, and medical students are not immune. [1].
Medical students face constant pressure during their 4+ years of training, often leading to burnout and stress-related health concerns. To address this, a recent study, published in the American Journal of Surgery, explored the benefits of Cognitive Fitness Training (CFT) for third-year medical students. Researchers aimed to help students navigate the challenges of medical school, without sacrificing academic performance [2].
Let’s dive into the details of the study and what it means for medical training in the future.
Why Emotional Intelligence and Stress Management Matter in Medical Students
Medical school can be incredibly stressful, especially when students start working with real patients. Long hours, high expectations, and constant pressure often lead to burnout, which can harm both mental health and academic performance.
Emotional intelligence—being able to understand and control your emotions—can help students cope with this stress [3]. Yet, many medical schools don’t offer formal training in these areas, leaving students to figure it out on their own.
That’s where Cognitive Fitness Training (CFT) comes in. CFT is a progressive skills acquisition program designed by Dr. Seth Hickerson to teach leaders and high performers important mental skills like emotional intelligence, focus, and resilience. By integrating CFT into the medical school curriculum, students gain the tools they need to handle stressful situations without compromising their studies.
This study examines the effectiveness of CFT in helping medical students during their surgery clerkship, and the results are promising.
Study Design Overview
Researchers used a randomized control trial (RCT) design with 80 3rd year medical students. Participants were divided into two groups: the training group (received CFT during their surgery clerkship) and the control group (CFT was available after the clerkship).
The Cognitive Fitness (CF) assessment was administered both before and after the clerkship to measure any changes. Academic performance was also monitored through scores on the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) exam and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to ensure the program didn’t negatively impact their medical education.
CFT includes of nine modules, designed to help you build a foundation and then acquire new skills throughout the program:
⦁ Emotional Intelligence – Understanding and managing emotions.
⦁ Focus – Enhancing concentration in stressful environments.
⦁ Gratitude – Cultivating a positive mindset.
⦁ Resilience – Building the ability to bounce back from challenges.
⦁ Confidence – Strengthening self-belief.
⦁ Presence – Staying mindful and engaged in the present moment.
⦁ Goal Setting – Creating and working towards clear objectives.
⦁ Time Management – Improving efficiency in a demanding schedule.
⦁ Stress Management – Learning techniques to handle high-pressure situations.
Each module involved online learning and weekly in-person coaching sessions to help students apply these skills in real-world scenarios. Group in-person sessions are facilitated by a subject matter expert and develop a sense of camaraderie and belonging.
Cognitive Fitness Improved, Without Impacting School Performance
Students who participated in CFT showed a significant improvement in overall cognitive fitness. Specifically, there were marked gains in emotional intelligence, focus, gratitude, and resilience—skills that are essential for managing stress and excelling in high-pressure environments like medical school.
Importantly, these improvements didn’t come at the cost of poorer academic performance. Demonstrating that it’s possible to build critical mental wellness skills without sacrificing academic success, students in the training group maintained comparable scores on the NBME and OSCE.
Neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to adapt and change – is the underlying principle behind this success. CFT leverages neuroplasticity by teaching students how to actively rewire their brains to better handle stress, stay focused, and maintain resilience in the face of challenges. This proactive stress management may help prevent burnout during medical school and beyond.
Implications for Medical Training & Real World Impact
The results of this study highlight a significant opportunity for medical education.
A novel, science-backed approach like CFT may help move the needle and reduce burnout and mental illness among medical students and healthcare practitioners. By integrating CFT into existing curricula, medical schools could equip students with vital skills in emotional intelligence, resilience, and stress management. Unlike traditional approaches like mindfulness-based stress reduction, which is typically focused on stress relief, CFT is designed to proactively enhance cognitive performance while developing resilience against future stressors. While these programs are designed to improve the wellness of the students themselves, ‘well’ doctors take better care of their patients so their future patients will benefit from these efforts as well.
While this study represents a meaningful step forward, no study is without limitations. The sample size was relatively small, and some students, moreso those in the control group, dropped out before the study was over.
Research on future cohorts of third year medical students could help us better understand the impact of CFT on cognitive fitness and well-being at a larger scale. Plus, following up with students post-graduation as they become healthcare practitioners could help us understand if the skills stick around.
“CFT is more than just managing stress—it’s about transforming how medical students think, react, and thrive in high-pressure environments,” says Dr. Alexander Raines, Chief Medical Officer at MySteadyMind. “By using neuroscience to build the skills of emotional intelligence, we’re preparing future physicians not just for their exams, but for the real-world challenges of healthcare.”
Key Takeaways
⦁ Cognitive Fitness Training (CFT) significantly improved emotional intelligence, resilience, and focus in medical students, equipping them with essential skills to proactively manage stress
⦁ No adverse effect on academic performance was observed, with students in the intervention group scoring similarly on the board exams as those in control
⦁ Neuroplasticity is central to the success of CFT, helping students rewire their responses to high-stress environments
⦁ Further research is needed to explore the scalability of CFT and its long-term effects on students’ mental well-being and career success
To experience CFT for yourself, click here.
References
- Almutairi, H., Alsubaiei, A, Abduljawad, S., et al. Prevalence of burnout in medical students: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 2022. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. 1-14.
- Rhines, A. et al. Assessing the efficacy and feasibility of emotional intelligence and stress management training for medical students within their third-year surgery clerkship. The American Journal of Surgery, Volume 0, Issue 0, 115817.
- American Psychological Association Dictionary. Emotional Intelligence. Accessed October 1, 2024. Available at: https://dictionary.apa.org/emotional-intelligence.
