Reducing sedentary behavior and promoting physical activity in medical students: protocol of the PROMESS-Physical Activity randomized controlled clinical trial
Abstract
BackgroundThe 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. Methods 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 CON-SORT Guidelines. Ethical approval has been obtained (IRB: 2023070401). The results from this study will be presented at conferences and in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
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BibTeX
@article{schlatter2026reducing,
title = {{Reducing sedentary behavior and promoting physical activity in medical students: protocol of the PROMESS-Physical Activity randomized controlled clinical trial}},
author = {Sophie Schlatter and Mathilde Mura and Mathilde Fiona Bertrand and Baptiste Morel and Olivier Loisel and Mélina Aouidat and Etienne Gouraud and Amélie Henry and Christophe Hautier and Vincent Pialoux and Gilles Rode and Angèle Métais},
journal = {Trials},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s13063-026-10018-9},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05844341v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Reducing sedentary behavior and promoting physical activity in medical students: protocol of the PROMESS-Physical Activity randomized controlled clinical trial
AU - Sophie Schlatter
AU - Mathilde Mura
AU - Mathilde Fiona Bertrand
AU - Baptiste Morel
AU - Olivier Loisel
AU - Mélina Aouidat
AU - Etienne Gouraud
AU - Amélie Henry
AU - Christophe Hautier
AU - Vincent Pialoux
AU - Gilles Rode
AU - Angèle Métais
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/14
JO - Trials
DO - 10.1186/s13063-026-10018-9
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05844341v1
AB - BackgroundThe 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. Methods 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 CON-SORT Guidelines. Ethical approval has been obtained (IRB: 2023070401). The results from this study will be presented at conferences and in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
SN - 1745-6215
ER -