Developing a mindfulness program for pre-clinical medical students in Indonesia: a mixed-methods study on suitability and appropriateness.

Denish Gunawan; Lia Antico; William Nardi; Judson A. Brewer

doi:10.1186/s12909-025-07642-5

Developing a mindfulness program for pre-clinical medical students in Indonesia: a mixed-methods study on suitability and appropriateness.

Denish Gunawan, Lia Antico, William Nardi, Judson A. Brewer

BMC Medical Education July 17, 2025 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-025-07642-5 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract

Characteristics	Convergent mixed methods study Longitudinal Pilot study Qualitative Peer reviewed
Population	First-, second-, and third-year pre-clinical medical students in Indonesia
Intervention	Mindfulness Program for Pre-Clinical Medical Students in Indonesia (MPPMS-I)
Duration	May to July 2024
Topics	Meditation
Keywords	Feasibility and acceptability Medical students Mindfulness-based interventions mbi Mixed methods research Program development Psychological distress User-centered design
Citations	2
Key points	The Mindfulness Program for Pre-Clinical Medical Students in Indonesia (MPPMS-I) is feasible, culturally appropriate, and suitable for addressing mental health needs, with moderate and rising interest and high perceived relevance.

Abstract

Medical students experience high rates of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, burnout, and suicidality, due to rigorous academic demands. Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBI) have demonstrated small-to-moderate effectiveness in reducing stress and improving well-being, yet culturally adapted and developmentally appropriate programs for Indonesian medical students remain limited. This study aims to develop and evaluate the Mindfulness Program for Pre-Clinical Medical Students in Indonesia (MPPMS-I) to determine its feasibility, acceptability, and suitability in addressing the mental health needs of pre-clinical medical students. This study employed a convergent mixed methods approach guided by the User-Centered Design (UCD) framework which emphasized iterative development based on user feedback. First-, second-, and third-year pre-clinical medical students were recruited between May and July 2024. The study was conducted in three iterative phases, each involving different participant groups to refine MPPMS-I: Phase 1 assessed initial impressions and interest, Phase 2 evaluated program relevance and clarity, and Phase 3 gathered detailed feedback on individual sessions to finalize the module. Quantitative analysis examined participant characteristics, interest levels, program relevance, applicability of learned concepts, and instructional clarity. Qualitative analysis were analyzed using framework analysis to explore themes such as participants' first impressions, key lessons learned, beneficial aspects, daily integration of mindfulness practices, and barriers and facilitators to participation. Dual coding was used to enhance trustworthiness. Findings revealed three key insights: (1) a moderate and rising level of interest (mean range: 5.75 to 6.6), supported by qualitative feedback indicating increased engagement following iterative refinement; (2) The program was perceived as highly relevant to students' academic and personal challenges, particularly around stress, perfectionism, and communication; and (3) Participants reported a high likelihood of applying what they learned, such as mindfulness practices like S.T.O.P. meditation and journaling, into their daily routines.in their daily lives. Themes of relevance, practical benefit, and cultural fit emerged prominently in qualitative feedback. This study suggests that MPPMS-I is a feasible, culturally appropriate, and suitable intervention for pre-clinical medical students in Indonesia. Participants found it helpful for stress management, personal growth, and improving communication. As the program remains in an early evaluative phase, future research should include a longitudinal pilot study involving clinical students and assess long-term outcomes. Integrating MPPMS-I into medical curricula could offer a sustainable and context-sensitive approach to enhancing student well-being and resilience. Not applicable.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.

Study	Year	Design	Participants
The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan...	2017	Qualitative study with mixed-methods
The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Nurses in a hospital system	2004	Implementation study with mixed methods
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety	2006	Exploratory mixed methods study	n = 13
A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression Participants in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a mental-health context	2001	Qualitative study	n = 7
Effortless awareness: using real time neurofeedback to investigate correlates of posterior cingulate cortex activity in meditators' self-report Meditators	2013	Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology

Citations in the library

Cited by 1

From burnout to resilience: A clinician-codesigned digital mindfulness intervention for nurses and resident physicians. Internet Interventions August 12, 2026

Cites 17

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