Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT07756879

Classroom Exercise Frequency and Mental Health in Medical Students

This 16-week, three-group, nonrandomized interventional study evaluated whether the weekly frequency of a brief classroom-based physical exercise program was associated with changes in mental health and physical activity among 105 undergraduate medical students at Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira, Colombia. EG2 (n=35) received two exercise sessions per week, EG1 (n=37) received one session per week, and CG (n=33) received no exercise intervention. Anxiety, depression, stress, and physical activity were assessed at baseline and after 16 weeks.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Mental Health Anxiety Disorders Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Depression Mental Disorders Motor Activity Personal Satisfaction Physical Activity Psychological Well-Being Stress, Psychological

Age range

16 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira

Pereira, Risaralda Department, 660003, Colombia

About this study

The three groups were specified prospectively in the ethics-approved protocol. Participation was voluntary, and all participants completed written informed consent. Academic groups were formed independently of the investigators by the university Registration and Academic Control Unit through its routine enrollment process. Both intervention groups received the same approximately 10-minute classroom exercise program and differed only in weekly frequency. Each session comprised a 3-minute warm-up, a 5-minute interval circuit involving large muscle groups, and a 2-minute cool-down with stretching and breathing. Exercises varied across sessions and intensity increased progressively. The target intensity was 5 to 7 on the modified 0-to-10 Borg scale together with a moderate Talk Test response. Attendance was called before each session by the assigned instructor, and withdrawal during a session was recorded. Adherence was defined as attendance at 80% or more of delivered sessions. No adverse events were recorded.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Enrollment in the corresponding academic group (EG2, EG1, or CG) at Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira.
  • Voluntary agreement to participate and completion of written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

  • Medical conditions that precluded participation in physical exercise.

Treatment and study plan

Brief Classroom-Based Physical Exercise Program

Behavioral

Approximately 10-minute sessions comprising a 3-minute warm-up, a 5-minute interval circuit involving large muscle groups, and a 2-minute cool-down. Exercises varied and intensity increased progressively, targeting 5 to 7 on the modified 0-to-10 Borg scale and a moderate Talk Test response. The program required no exercise equipment.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in anxiety symptom score assessed with the DASS-21 anxiety subscale

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention at week 16

    Seven items are summed without doubling to obtain a raw score from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety symptom severity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in depression symptom score assessed with the DASS-21 depression subscale

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention at week 16

    Seven items are summed without doubling to obtain a raw score from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater depression symptom severity.

  2. Change in psychological stress score assessed with the DASS-21 stress subscale

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention at week 16

    Seven items are summed without doubling to obtain a raw score from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate greater stress symptom severity.

  3. Change in total physical activity assessed with the short-form International Physical Activity Questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline and post-intervention at week 16

    Total physical activity is expressed as MET-minutes/week by summing walking, moderate-intensity, and vigorous-intensity activity. Higher values indicate a greater physical activity volume.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Dynamical Business and Science Society - DBSS International SAS

Network

Registry information

Official study title

Promoción de la Actividad física y la Salud Mental en Estudiantes de Medicina

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Aug 11, 2026
Registry last updated
Aug 11, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.