A pilot study to investigate the acceptability and potential efficacy of Transcendental Meditation on psychological wellbeing in healthcare students in a rural Indian tertiary-care hospital.

Background: Healthcare students (Medical and Paramedical) face significant psychological stress due to the demanding nature of their academic programs, clinical responsibilities, and the high expectations placed on them. This stress can lead to various psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, burnout, and reduced quality of life. Recent studies have suggested that mind-body interventions like Transcendental Meditation (TM) may be effective in reducing stress and improving psychological well-being in student populations. TM is a simple, natural, and effortless technique practiced for 20 minutes twice daily while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed. It allows the mind to settle inward beyond thought to the most silent and peaceful level of consciousness, leading to profound relaxation, increased inner calm, and improved cognitive functioning.

Aims and Objectives of the study: The primary aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the acceptability of Transcendental Meditation for healthcare students.

The secondary aim is to explore the exploratory effectiveness of Transcendental Meditation intervention in improving the overall wellbeing and reducing the perceived stress, anxiety and low mood amongst medical students.

Methodology: This is a pilot observational, single-arm study exploring the feasibility and acceptability of TM in healthcare students. The students will be taught TM by a qualified TM trainer. Validated and reliable outcome measures will be collected at baseline and 3-months follow-up.