AI and Mindfulness Meditation for Stress Reduction in Medical Students

May 14, 2026 updated by: Zabrina Kerr, Saint James School of Medicine

Artificial Intelligence and Mindfulness Meditation: Innovative Methods to Reduce Stress Amongst Medical School Students

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if two stress-reduction methods can lower stress in medical students. The study compares a wearable device and a mindfulness program. The wearable device sends gentle vibrations to the body, while the mindfulness program teaches meditation and stress awareness skills.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Does the wearable device lower stress levels in medical students?
  • Does mindfulness meditation lower stress levels in medical students?
  • Is one method more effective than the other?

Researchers will compare the wearable device to the mindfulness program to see if one works better for reducing stress.

Participants are medical students from Saint James School of Medicine. Each participant will try both methods during the study. Participants will:

  • Use the wearable device daily for four weeks
  • Complete a four-week mindfulness meditation program
  • Take a one-week break between the two methods
  • Complete surveys about stress and satisfaction
  • Have heart rate variability (HRV) measured to assess stress levels

This study will help researchers understand whether wearable technology or mindfulness training is more effective for managing stress in medical students. It may also show if both methods can improve how the body responds to stress over time.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized, unblinded, two-period crossover clinical trial designed to evaluate and compare the effects of a wearable stress-modulation device and a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program on stress levels in medical students.

Stress is common among medical students due to academic demands and challenges with maintaining work-life balance. Chronic stress can negatively affect both mental and physical health, including cognitive performance and emotional well-being. Interventions that improve stress regulation may help support student health and academic success.

This study investigates two non-invasive approaches to stress reduction: a wearable device that delivers gentle vibratory stimulation intended to regulate the autonomic nervous system, and a structured mindfulness meditation program designed to improve stress awareness and emotional regulation.

A total of 20 medical students from Saint James School of Medicine were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to one of two sequences:

  • Sequence AB: mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) followed by the wearable device
  • Sequence BA: wearable device followed by MBSR

Each intervention period lasted four weeks and was separated by a one-week washout period to reduce potential carryover effects.

Participants in the MBSR group completed a structured mindfulness program focused on meditation practices and stress management techniques. Participants in the wearable device group used the device regularly during daily activities.

Outcome measures included both subjective and objective assessments:

  • Heart rate variability (HRV), used as a physiological marker of autonomic nervous system regulation and stress response
  • Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ), using a five-point Likert scale
  • Qualitative surveys to assess participant experiences and perceived stress

The primary objective was to determine whether the wearable device is more effective than mindfulness meditation in reducing stress, as measured by HRV and self-reported outcomes.

Results showed no statistically significant difference between the two interventions in terms of HRV or patient-reported satisfaction. However, both interventions were associated with improvements in HRV over time, suggesting enhanced autonomic regulation. Mindfulness-based stress reduction demonstrated a stronger initial effect, while the wearable device showed smaller but consistent improvements. No significant carryover effects were observed between intervention periods.

These findings suggest that both interventions may support stress reduction and improved autonomic nervous system function in medical students. The wearable device offers a practical advantage, as it can be used during daily activities without requiring dedicated time for practice, unlike mindfulness training.

Future research should include larger sample sizes, consider cultural and environmental factors influencing stress, and use blinded study designs to reduce bias.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Anguilla
      • The Quarter, Anguilla
        • Saint James School of Medicine

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Medical Student at Saint James Medical School
  • Proficient in English

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Insufficient stress levels
  • Already owning an Apollo Device
  • Inability to provide informed consent
  • Have any medical condition that precluded the use of Apollo

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Sequence AB
Participants assigned to Sequence AB receive Treatment A in Period 1 followed by Treatment B in Period 2, with a washout period between treatments. Treatment A consists of an AI-supported mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-style) intervention delivered over the first study period. Treatment B consists of a control or alternative stress-reduction condition delivered over the second study period. Outcomes are assessed at baseline and at the end of each period to evaluate within-subject changes in stress and wellbeing.
Device: Apollo Neuro Wearable
The Apollo Neuro intervention involves the use of a wearable neuromodulation device designed to support stress regulation through gentle, non-invasive vibration patterns. The device delivers low-frequency tactile stimulation intended to promote parasympathetic nervous system activation and improve autonomic balance. Participants wear the device during designated periods throughout the day (e.g., study, relaxation, or sleep) according to a standardized protocol. The intervention aims to reduce physiological and perceived stress levels through continuous somatic signaling and nervous system modulation
Active Comparator: Sequence BA
Participants assigned to Sequence BA receive Treatment B in Period 1 followed by Treatment A in Period 2, with a washout period between treatments. Treatment B consists of a control or alternative stress-reduction condition delivered during the first study period. Treatment A consists of an AI-supported mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR-style) intervention delivered during the second study period. Outcomes are assessed at baseline and at the end of each period to evaluate within-subject differences in stress and wellbeing.
Behavioral: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course
The MBSR intervention is an evidence-based structured mindfulness program designed to reduce stress and improve psychological wellbeing. Participants engage in guided mindfulness practices including focused attention meditation, body scanning, and breathing exercises. The intervention emphasizes present-moment awareness and non-judgmental observation of thoughts and emotions. Sessions are delivered over a defined study period and are complemented by brief daily at-home mindfulness practice. The goal is to reduce perceived stress, in medical students through repeated mindfulness training and cognitive regulation strategies.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Perceived Stress Questionnaire
Time Frame: Baseline; Week 4 (end of Period 1); Week 9 (end of Period 2).
The primary outcome is change in perceived stress among medical students, measured using a validated self-report linear Likert scale such as the Perceived Stress Questionnaire. This measure assesses the degree to which participants perceive their life situations as stressful, including feelings of overload, unpredictability, and lack of control. PSQ scores will be compared within participants in a randomized two-period crossover design evaluating the effects of a 4-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program and a 4-week Apollo Neuro device intervention.
Baseline; Week 4 (end of Period 1); Week 9 (end of Period 2).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Heart Rate Variability
Time Frame: During each intervention period (approximately 4 weeks per period), with comparison of HRV outcomes between Period 1 and Period 2 following completion of each phase of the crossover design (approximately 8 weeks total after enrolment).
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a secondary physiological outcome used to assess autonomic nervous system regulation and stress response. HRV reflects the variation in time intervals between consecutive heartbeats and serves as an objective marker of parasympathetic (vagal) activity and stress resilience. In this randomized two-period, two-sequence (AB/BA) crossover study, each participant serves as their own control, allowing within-subject comparison of HRV across intervention conditions. HRV measurements are used to evaluate changes in physiological stress regulation in response to each intervention period.
During each intervention period (approximately 4 weeks per period), with comparison of HRV outcomes between Period 1 and Period 2 following completion of each phase of the crossover design (approximately 8 weeks total after enrolment).

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Saint James School of Medicine

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Mykhailo Vysochyn, MD, PhD, Saint James School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

May 15, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 24, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

October 6, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 8, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SaintJamesSoM

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared publicly due to the small sample size (n=20), sensitive physiological and psychological measures, lack of data-sharing infrastructure, and no requirement for public IPD sharing.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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