Longitudinal well-being measurements in doctor of pharmacy students following a college-specific intervention

Abstract

Background and purpose Supporting clinician mental health and well-being must start in the learning environment, especially as health profession students have been shown to have higher rates of mental illness than their peers pursuing other careers. This project aimed to support positive mental health in pharmacy students through small changes that faculty implemented both inside and outside of the classroom. Educational activity and setting In partnership with the Counseling and Mental Health Center, faculty received training, resources, and (in some cases) classroom observation and feedback on how to incorporate small changes that support student well-being. Assessments were performed each semester beginning in spring 2018 and ending in spring 2020. These included the Mental Health Continuum - Short Form (measuring positive mental health and well-being), the Theories of Intelligence Scale - Self Form for Adults (measuring growth mindset), the Sense of Belonging Scale (measuring five domains of social connectedness), and the Brief Resilience Scale (measuring resilience). Participating faculty were surveyed regarding how frequently selected activities were incorporated into their practice and how comfortable they felt supporting student mental health. Findings Positive trends were seen throughout the project on the scales assessing growth mindset and sense of belonging. Summary Supporting positive mental health in pharmacy students in the learning environment is important for…