The University of Alberta MScOT students at the Calgary Satellite Campus developed a Student Wellness Initiative (SWI) to address concerns about the amount of time students spend sedentarily in front of screens and its effect on health. The SWI is comprised of student volunteers who lead two health-focused physical or psychosocial activities weekly. Feedback from surveys and focus groups of 24 participating students found that the SWI enhanced sense of community and reduced stress, though scheduling challenges arose due to classes and placements. Students recommended incentives, more psychosocial events, and strategic scheduling to increase participation.

1. Taking the Lead on Health: A Student Wellness Initiative
Cassandra Greenhough, Nicole Davidson, Katie Staden, Susan Mulholland, Jutta Hinrichs
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SUMMARY OF RESULTS
DESCRIPTION
METHODINTRODUCTION
There is increasing concern regarding the
number of hours that university students
spend sedentary in front of screens. In
response to the effect this has on health,
University of Alberta MScOT students at
the Calgary Satellite Campus developed a
Student Wellness Initiative (SWI).
This initiative was created by students,
for students to help enhance wellness.
The SWI seeks to understand satellite
students health related issues and how to
increase their participation in a healthy
lifestyle.
The SWI is comprised of student
volunteers who schedule and lead two
health focused activities on a weekly basis.
Physical Activities:
• yoga, pilates, high intensity workouts,
barre class, table top tennis, group
walks and runs along the river
Psychosocial Activities:
• group and social games, potlucks,
fieldwork experience sharing circle, and
off campus group activities such as
curling and fitness classes
Twenty four of forty eight students enrolled in the Calgary
cohorts responded. Focus group results yielded the same
information as the student surveys. Preliminary results
forecast the success of this satellite campus wellness
initiative.
Participation (see graph)
• Monthly participation rates for scheduled activities
were recorded for Year 1 & 2
• Physical sessions ranged 19% - 35%
• Psychosocial sessions ranged 17% - 68%
• Attendance was higher at the outset of both semesters
and decreased during exam times
• Psychosocial activities received the highest attendance
Benefits
• Enhanced sense of community (75%)
• Reduction in stress (50%)
• Increase in overall wellness (37%)
Challenges
• Class scheduling and fieldwork placements posed
problems in creation of consistent scheduling
• Many students already have personal physical
wellness routines
Students Recommendations
• Use competition/incentives to encourage participation
• Provide more opportunities for psychosocial events
• Strategic timing/scheduling of activities
• Continue to engage students in program planning
Feedback was gathered on this student lead health
initiative.
• An anonymous online survey was conducted in
December 2015 to gather opinions of both Year 1
& 2 MScOT Calgary students
• A focus group was also conducted by a recent
graduate of the program
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• Calgary MScOT grad classes 2015, 2016 & 2017
• Volunteer Wellness Reps
• University of Alberta Wellness Project’s ‘Unwind your Mind’ grant
“Wellness sessions have allowed me to better
organize my time between studying and being active.”
Student wellness participant
Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb
A"endance of Students (%)
2015/2016
Calgary MScOT Wellness AcAviAes
Psychosocial
Physical
100
80
60
40
20
0