Physical Activity and Wellness Among Medical Students at the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM)

Title: Physical Activity and Wellness Among Medical Students at the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM)

Authors: Johnathan Kim, Maya Ushijima, and Richard Kasuya MD

Affiliations: University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine

Introduction: Previous studies indicate the benefits of physical activity on academic performance, cognitive function, and attention span. Regular exercise is also linked with fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms. Medical students have limited time to engage in regular physical activity, which may affect their ability to learn and wellness. There is limited research combining the effect of physical activity on both academic performance and wellness in medical students. We defined metrics of wellness as stress and anxiety levels, energy levels, and sleep quality.

Objectives: To obtain a better understanding of how physical activity impacts perception of academic performance and wellbeing of medical students at JABSOM.

Methods: All medical students enrolled at JABSOM during the 2023-2024 school year were considered for enrollment in this study. An electronic survey was administered to all participants.

Results: Approximately 70% of respondents agree that physical exercise is directly correlated with their academic performance and motivation to study. 80% found that exercise improved their ability to focus and concentrate while studying or in class. 90% of students believed exercise is directly correlated with sleep quality and energy levels at school. Over 80% agreed that exercising regularly lowers stress and anxiety levels.

Discussion: Previous studies demonstrated a direct correlation between physical activity and academic performance in both medical and non-medical students. Our data supports this correlation in medical students. Over 85% of participants engage in physical activity. The most common types of exercises reported were walking, weight lifting, and jogging. While the majority of students believed that physical activity is directly correlated with their academic performance, motivation to study, and ability to focus, one-third of students disagreed with these statements. Regular exercise has been proven to have beneficial effects on mental health. The data elucidates a direct correlation between physical activity and perceived quality of sleep, lower stress and anxiety levels, and concentration and energy levels in medical school. More students seemed to agree with the statements about wellness (90%) compared to the statements about academic performance (70%), suggesting that students may exercise for reasons related to their well-being rather than reasons related to their academic performance. The most common reason cited by students for not engaging in regular exercise was lack of time. Other common reasons included cost, lack of access, caregiving responsibilities, and lack of confidence or knowledge. Next steps include broader sampling of future years of medical students and other medical schools. There were some quantitative differences between classes, which can be analyzed in a future study. An area of interest would be a longitudinal study to see if levels of physical activity change throughout medical school, and if these changes are correlated with fluctuations in academic performance and wellness metrics. Data from this project can provide a framework to create novel programs in medical schools to encourage and support physical activity within the student body to engender positive outcomes in academic performance and wellness.

Target Audience: Educational professionals or students interested in curriculum development, including the promotion of emotional wellbeing and resilience.