Examining Executive Functions in Medical Students Across Different Types of Study Breaks

NCT ID: NCT06710678

Last Updated: 2024-11-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

120 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-11-19

Study Completion Date

2025-08-01

Brief Summary

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This study aims to expand on previous findings and compare the effects of an active break (ten minutes of walking or upper body movement), a digital break (ten minutes of phone use), and no break on memory and attention in medical students after a prolonged period of studying. The List Learning Task, Stroop Test, and Sustained Attention to Response Task will be administered to measure memory, executive function, and attention, respectively. Information on how different types of breaks affect memory and attention may prompt medical students to be more mindful and intentional of the way they spend their time in between studying.

Detailed Description

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120 people will be recruited. Following consent procedures, those who choose to participate will be randomized to physical intervention, digital intervention or control. 40 will be randomly selected to be in the active physical break group, another 40 participants will selected to be in the passive digital break group, and another 40 will be selected to be in the group without any break.

All participants will complete a demographic form and a baseline Stroop and Sustained Attention to Response Task tests prior to starting the experiment. Next, participants in all three groups will self-study any form of class material for 45 minutes without any breaks or phone usage. At the 45 min mark, the first part of the List Learning Task will be administered to all participants. Following completion, participants in the active physical break and passive digital break groups will begin their 15 min breaks. Those in the former group will engage in 10 min of walking or upper body movement. Those in the latter group will engage in 10 min of social media usage. An additional 5 min will be allotted to allow participants to get settled after their break and use the bathroom if needed before continuing with the study. Participants in the control group will continue studying for 15 min. All participants will not be permitted to converse or interact with each other throughout the break. Once the 15 min break has concluded, all participants will be administered the second part of the List Learning Task. When that is completed, participants will be given the Stroop Test and Sustained Attention to Response Task. A survey will be given to the passive digital break group to determine which social media app(s) were used. All groups will be surveyed about their thoughts regarding their respective type of break or lack thereof and its effect on their studying.

Conditions

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Executive Function (Cognition)

Keywords

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study breaks social media executive function memory medical students

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Social Media Study Break

Medical students will engage in a 10 minute social media study break

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Social Media Study Break

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants will engage in social media use/engagement during a 10-minute study session break

Physical Activity Study Break

Medical student will engage in a 10 minute light physical activity study break

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Physical Activity Study Break

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

A 10-minute walking/upper extremity light movement indoor break from study session

No study break

Medical students will continue to study instead of a break

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Physical Activity Study Break

A 10-minute walking/upper extremity light movement indoor break from study session

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Social Media Study Break

Participants will engage in social media use/engagement during a 10-minute study session break

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* have and regularly use some form of social media
* able to perform light physical activity such as walking or upper body movement

Exclusion Criteria

* no social media usage
* color blindness (cognitive tests require color perception)
* ADHD or other known conditions that affect attention and/or concentration,
* current concussion
* any condition that prevents upper or lower body physical activity.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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New York Institute of Technology

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Amber Sousa

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Amber Sousa, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

NYIT COM

Locations

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NYIT

Old Westbury, New York, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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United States

Central Contacts

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Amber Sousa, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 516-686-7698

Email: [email protected]

Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, PhD

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 516-686-1300

Email: [email protected]

Other Identifiers

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NYIT IRB-2025-152

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id