Effectiveness of Issuing Well-being Challenges to Nudge Pharmacy Students to Adopt Well-being Protective Behaviors

Abstract

Objective. To assess the effectiveness of well-being challenges embedded within a pharmacy management course to influence student adoption of positive well-being behaviors. Methods. Four optional, month-long well-being challenges addressing smartphone use, gratitude, sleep, and exercise were designed and administered within a pharmacy management course. Participants completed a reflective survey documenting reasons for participation, prior behaviors, and intentions to continue the behaviors. Results. Ninety-three percent (n5126) of students enrolled in the course participated in at least one well-being challenge, and 82% (n5104) of participants completed two or more challenges. The majority of participants (ranging from 88% to 100% per challenge) indicated they intended to attempt or definitely continue the behaviors after the challenge(s) was completed. Conclusion. A strategy of well-being challenges can be an effective way to influence students to adopt well-being protective behaviors.

Health-related consequences of the type and utilization rates of electronic devices by college students

“…Given that the goal is to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and illness among students and adults using these devices, our findings suggest we many need to reconsider our approach. As noted above our team believes, as others have tested, that the use of these same devices to prompt, encourage, and nudge proper behaviors, including breaks from their use and proper ergonomics, are both feasible and the most likely path toward better health outcomes for students [39,40]. The understanding we provide here should help device designers and programmers better plan for user exposure to their software, apps, accessories, tools, cases and devices within the heavy use crowd of college age students.…”

An Intervention Utilizing the Salience Principle to Reduce Pharmacy Students’ Psychological Attraction to Smartphones

“…During the spring semesters of 2019 and 2020, students enrolled in a required third year management course in the professional doctor of pharmacy program at the University of Kentucky were invited to participate in a series of optional challenges designed to enhance individual well-being. 28 The first challenge, which is the focus of this study, lasted approximately 3 weeks at the beginning of the semester and involved actions to reduce psychological attachment to smartphones. Specifically, this challenge required participants to a) change default color setting for smartphone screen to grayscale, b) disable notifications for social media apps, c) remove social media icons from the home screen and d) not sleep with or near their smartphone.…”

A Scoping Review of Well-being Assessment and Interventions in Student Pharmacists

“…The 126 (93%) students that completed the challenges reported the attempt to continue the healthy habits as they were identified as useful. 20 An alternate strategy is to incorporate a single well-being activity into a required course. The University of Waterloo incorporated a single "Check In" activity in a required course that consisted of a background reading, an in-person lecture component, and a faculty-student mentoring session.…”