Date Presented 04/03/2025
Neuromodulation coaching is effective in enhancing medical students’ occupational performance and health. This topic provides professionals in the field with integrative tools to help foster a healthier state of mind for their clients.
Primary Author and Speaker: Lisa Kozden
Additional Authors and Speakers: Julia Higgins, Julia Kulpa, Jessica Opsal, Sara Dombrowski, Alexis Angstadt, Christina Rodier, Caroline Brawley, Breanne Dolphin
PURPOSE: The purpose of this single-subjects study is to examine the effects of Neuromodulation Coaching (NMC) on the occupational performance and health of medical students. More specifically, the investigators will be examining how Neuromodulation Coaching affects heart rate variability, levels of burnout, and occupational performance.
DESIGN: This study was conducted using a single-subjects, nonconcurrent multiple baselines design. Participants were recruited via purposive and snowball sampling. Inclusion criteria: enrolled in medical school, 18 years or older, owns Apple Watch and English speaking. Exclusion criteria: any predisposed heart conditions.
METHOD: Researchers analyzed the quantitative data collected from the following assessments: Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OBI), Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), and heart rate variability (HRV). Afterwards, the team utilized the following data analysis procedures used with single-subjects design: celeration line approach, binomial test, and two standard deviation band procedures. For the research team to analyze quantitative information and perform a narrative inquiry.
RESULTS: At the completion of NMC, three of the four participants demonstrated a decrease in burnout. Two participants demonstrated improvement in occupational performance, one of which also demonstrated improvement in occupational satisfaction. None of the participants demonstrated an increase in HRV.
CONCLUSIONS: Results support the importance of holistic, client-centered care, which incorporates a psychoneuroimmunological perspective on occupational performance and health. Not every participant demonstrated significant improvement in all areas, however, confounding factors may have influenced outcomes. Overall findings support the use of NMC as a part of the occupational therapy process.
References
Bergmann, C. Muth, T. & Loerbroks, A. (2019). Medical students’ perceptions of stress due to academic studies and its interrelationships with other domains of life: A qualitative study. Medical Education Online, 24, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2019.1603526
Straub, R. H., & Cutolo, M. (2018). Psychoneuroimmunology-developments in stress research. Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift, 168, 78–84. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-017-0574-2
Derakhshanrad, S. A., Piven, E., Hosseini, S. A., Shahboulaghi, F. M., Nazeran, H., & Rassafiani, M. (2015). Exploring the nature of the intention, meaning and perception process of the neuro-occupation model to understand adaptation to change. Occupational Therapy International, 23, 29–38. https://doi.org/10.1002/oti.1402
