Reducing sedentary behavior and promoting physical activity in medical students: protocol of the PROMESS-Physical Activity randomized controlled clinical trial

The increase in sedentary behavior, coupled with a decrease in physical activity, poses a significant health risk. Medical students, in particular, face higher risks due to demanding academic schedules, prolonged sitting, and limited attention to physical activity. The PROMESS-Physical Activity clinical trial aims to support future healthcare professionals by enhancing their abilities to reduce their sedentary behavior and promote their physical activity. The support will be provided through a three-session program. Each session will include an individual meeting between a medical student and a PROMESS-Physical Activity expert, during which self-care education, advice, and personalized goals will be established. The present protocol is designed to assess the influence of this program on 45 undergraduate medical students (4th and 5th year, Lyon, France) compared to a control condition (usual practices; n = 25). Assessments of sedentary behavior and physical activity will be conducted before, during and after the intervention. At the end of the third session the student’s satisfaction levels regarding the program will be assessed. The primary outcome will be the change in sedentary time estimated through self-reported (questionnaires) and objective (accelerometry) measurements. Secondary outcomes will provide a detailed characterization of changes in other sedentary behaviors, physical activity levels, physical fitness and body composition markers. Exploratory outcomes will provide information regarding the satisfaction and will determine the moderators of the program’s efficacy. Data will be analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle and presented in accordance with the CONSORT Guidelines. Ethical approval has been obtained (IRB: 2023070401). The results from this study will be presented at conferences and in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Results will provide valuable insights into the program’s efficacy. If its efficacy is proven, PROMESS-Physical Activity could become an integral part of medical education, fostering a healthier future for healthcare professionals. This manuscript follows the SPIRIT guidelines (Additional file 8). ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06297304; NCT06309771. Retrospectively registered on 2024-02-29.