Student/Trainee – Clinician Well-Being Knowledge Hub

Promoting Wellness and Stress Management in Residents through Emotional Intelligence Training

NAM — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:57:36 +0000

Previous literature on Emotional Intelligence (EI) demonstrates that physicians with higher levels of EI are less susceptible to burnout. The purpose of the study examines that theory by assessing the impact of educational intervention in increasing overall EI level in residents; specifically their stress management and wellness scores. Residents students volunteered to complete an online self assessment survey measuring EI before and after an educational intervention session. Results found that there was a significant increase in EI scores after the educational intervention in both stress management and overall wellness. Therefore teaching EI skills is highly efficient in promoting wellness amongst resident physicians.

Medical Training Programs Need to Care About Physician Burnout. Should the Rest of Us?

NAM — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:11:20 +0000

In this opinion article, Timothy Hoff discusses his thoughts on who’s to blame in the rising rates of physician burnout. He points out how this growing problem has been largely ignored by medical schools and residency/fellowship programs for years. Rather, the blame is focused on external factors of health care despite the fact that medical students and residents already have high rates of burnout before entering practice. The students are viewed more as employees than talented assets that need significant investment to develop fully. Additionally, the culture around these programs overemphasize academic credentials while ignoring other skills such as resilience and emotional intelligence. When the role models in medical training themselves are also burnt out, this cycle continues to pass onto newer generations. Many other industries differ in the way that their “most prized talent” is treated from this aspect.

Association of Clinical Specialty With Symptoms of Burnout and Career Choice Regret Among US Resident Physicians

NAM — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 21:02:10 +0000

This study sought to identify the association between rates of burnout and career choice regret amongst resident physicians and whether this varies by clinical specialty. A prospective cohort study was conducted in which US resident physicians completed baseline questionnaires during their fourth year of medical school and then during their second year of residency. Exposures that were measured through the questionnaires included clinical specialty, demographics, educational debt, US Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scores, and reported levels of anxiety, empathy, and social support. Results found that symptoms of burnout and career choice regret were prevalent amongst physicians, and were relatively higher within the fields of urology, neurology, emergency medicine, ophthalmology, and general surgery.

The Embedded Counseling Model: An Application for Dental Students

NAM — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 13:36:46 +0000

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a counseling office on dental students at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry & Dental Clinics during their first three academic semesters. A full time psychologist was hired to provide in house counseling sessions to individual students. During clinical assessment, data was gathered on students’ psychological history and high risk behaviors. An outcome rating scale was utilized after each session to assess overall psychotherapy outcome. Results found a positive correlation between the number of counseling appointments and overall functioning. The most significant increase followed after the sessions. This suggests that counseling offices are efficient in promoting well-being of students and further research is needed in this area so that faculty can best meet the needs of their students.

Tackling Stress Management, Addiction, and Suicide Prevention in a Predoctoral Dental Curriculum

NAM — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 13:32:12 +0000

This article, published in Predoctoral Dental Education describes a module designed by the University Of British Columbia Faculty Of Dentistry to address stress management and suicide prevention in dental education. The course includes standardized patients, guest lectures, in-class activities, video presentations, and self-reflections. The purpose of the module is to increase discussion of stress in dentistry curriculum and awareness in dental students. Follow up studies with students who have taken the module are needed to determine its impact on health behaviors.

Perceived Stress and Well-Being Among Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy Students

NAM — Wed, 18 Sep 2019 13:17:57 +0000

This study explores the perception of stress and well-being amongst undergraduate dental hygiene and therapy students at the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy. A questionnaire was given to students measuring their perception of levels of stress and well-being. Results found that a majority of students reported levels of stress, depression, and anxiety that were within normal ranges. All reported having high levels of positive well-being. While previous studies have made the assumption that stress in undergraduate dental training is debilitating, this current study shows that students experiencing stress are reported to be positively-functioning individuals.

Addressing Burnout in Radiologists

NAM — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 16:32:31 +0000

This report published by The Association of University Radiologists presents a review of prevalence, causes, and impacts of burnout among radiology faculty and trainees. A survey using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) to evaluate the prevalence of burnout found that 61% of radiologists reported symptoms relating to burnout. Increasing workload is a leading source of job-related stress contributing to the issue. The practice environment may also contribute to increasing levels of burnout. Significant impacts of physician burnout include loss in productivity, decrease in personal effort, high physician turnover, worsening physician shortages, and more. Several individual and organization directed interventions have been discussed to help prevent burnout in radiologists and promote well-being.

Improving Environments for Learning in the Health Professions

NAM — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 16:24:59 +0000

This publication from the Macy Foundation provides a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed to improve the clinical learning environment. It contains a list of resources such as commissioned papers and case studies distributed at a conference about discussing major interventions in the field. The Foundation assembled leaders from health professions education, health professions learners, and representatives from accrediting bodies to identify interventions designed to improve health profession’s learning environments and offer a vision for a high functioning learning environment.

Measuring Our Values – Redoubling on a Commitment to Physician Health

NAM — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 16:11:36 +0000

Among the most telling statistics, suicide is the second leading cause of resident physician death. Growing health care costs, worsening physician shortages, along with a growing population needing health care, are factors to rethink in providing valuable physician training programs. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study that surveyed residency programs. Policies that allowed “flexible” duty hours (did not specify limits on shift length or mandatory time off between shifts) had negative impacts on overall well-being. Efforts should be made to ensure that trainees have the flexibility in their schedules to access mental health resources. The organizational and systemic factors that contribute to adverse mental health outcomes is a primary focus for physicians at all levels.

Suicided Doctor: Covered Up With a Tarp—and Silence.

NAM — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 20:10:28 +0000

The following article advocates for the need to hold medical systems and communities accountable for understanding why physician suicides occur. The author, Pamela Wible WD, shares emails and personal narratives presented to her from physicians and their loved ones, struggling to cope with, understand, and prevent suicides among physicians. Suicide among doctors is a global epidemic, and must be appropriately addressed through open communication, support groups, and fearless leadership within hospitals.