STETHO'TOP Study: Evaluation of the Impact of Potential Optimization Techniques on General Self-Efficacy Among Nursing Students Throughout Their Educational Curriculum

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Stress Related Nurse Study

In brief

In response to the concerning decline in nursing students' mental health, innovative measures were piloted in several nursing schools (IFSI) in 2024. Notably, a pilot program by the \*Mutuelle Nationale des Hospitaliers\* (MNH) was launched to address rising dropout rates, the increase in anxiety and depressive disorders, and the finding that nearly 25% of these young people have experienced suicidal thoughts. In this context, "Potential Optimization Techniques" (TOP) emerge as a promising avenue for intervention. Developed in the 1990s within the French military by Dr. Édith Perreaut-Pierre to meet the demands of operational stress, TOPs comprise a structured set of psycho-cognitive and behavioral strategies designed to optimize physical, mental, and emotional resources according to the requirements of the task at hand. They have proven effective in stress management, fatigue prevention, and the improvement of concentration and recovery, as well as in mobilizing the motivational and emotional resources needed for sustained performance (Perreaut-Pierre, 2024). Their pragmatic, adaptable, and self-directed nature makes them a potentially valuable tool for healthcare students, who also face demanding environments. TOPs could thus address the current concerns of nursing schools and the requirements of the 2026 reform by enabling students to develop emotional agility, autonomy in stress management, and a sense of agency in the face of training challenges. These anticipated benefits align with institutional goals aimed at reducing stress, fatigue, and academic dropout rates, while fostering well-being and performance within the healthcare professions.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07717047

Run by

Hospices Civils de Lyon

People needed

340

Starts

2026-09-01

Expected to finish

2028-09-02

Last updated by the study team

2026-07-21

Who can join

Age: any. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• The participants in this study are nursing students enrolled in the 2025-2028 cohorts at the Esquirol and Clémenceau Nursing Training Institutes (IFSI), affiliated with the Hospices Civils de Lyon.

You may not qualify if…

• Current history of severe neuropsychiatric conditions (severe depressive disorder, severe anxiety disorder)-self-reported-or uncontrolled acute psychiatric symptoms during the study (severe anxiety, severe behavioral disturbances).
• This criterion is incompatible with a pedagogical method like TOP, which falls outside the scope of psychology. The teaching skills involved in TOP do not enable the management of psychological disorders. However, they may complement psychological care within the context of these exclusion criteria.

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