[01] Piremela Naidu Govindaraju, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [02] Shenari Nimaya Ravindi Dias, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [03] Nadiah Batrisyia Binti Shahrul Azlan, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [04] Banusha Krishnamoorthy, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia. [05] Hewa Kokawalage Venura Malitha Kokawala, Faculty of Medicine, Manipal University College Malaysia, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Melaka, Malaysia.

Mindfulness is the state of being aware and conscious. Mindfulness has been examined scientifically and has appeared to have many benefits to the human race. The aim of conducting this research is to assess the practice of mindfulness and its role in improving academic performance among medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2021 to June 2021 among the undergraduate medical student (MBBS) in Manipal University College Malaysia. Data was collected by using a questionnaire that was distributed online through Google Forms to eligible undergraduate students from semesters 1 to 10 of MBBS students. Statistical tests (Unpaired t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation) were done using Epi Info software (version 7.2.4.0). A total of 193 students participated in the study, 135 responses (69.9%) were females and the rest of the 58 responses were from males (30.1%). For the Level of Awareness of Mindfulness, we found that majority of the respondents were moderately aware (49.7%), while (23.8%) were well aware, (15.5%) were less aware, (6.22%) were very well aware and (4.66%) were very less aware. There was no significant association between age, nationality and gender towards mindfulness. However, there was significant association between religion and the practice of mindfulness exercises where it was found that Buddhism and those who practice mindfulness exercises had a higher mindfulness. Our study also shows that there is a positive significant, low correlation between practice of mindfulness and academic performance. The practice of mindfulness therefore increases the academic performance among medical students in MUCM.

Mindfulness, Academic Performance, Medical Students

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