Wellbeing Of Doctors Research Articles

An intervention to determine the effectiveness of the Sanubari optimal health program (OHP) in improving mental well-being among junior doctors in Malaysia: a quasi-experimental study

BackgroundMental health problems among junior doctors in Malaysia pose a significant concern, as they not only adversely affect their overall well-being but also impact the quality of health services they provide. Therefore, it is important to implement interventions aimed at preserving their mental health. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Sanubari Optimal Health Program (OHP) intervention in enhancing the mental well-being of junior doctors in Malaysia.MethodsThe study utilised a quasi-experimental design involving 204 junior doctors who participated in the intervention. The Sanubari OHP Intervention Package was employed alongside self-administered questionnaires for mental health and well-being assessment. To evaluate the effects over time, repeated measures ANOVA was employed to analyse within-group and between-group changes in various endpoints, as measured at different assessment time points.ResultsThe study revealed that self-efficacy and adaptive coping behaviours scores increased over time among the intervention group and decreased among the control group. Yet, depression and anxiety scores decreased significantly over time among the intervention group but not in the control group. No significant differences were observed in well-being and maladaptive coping strategies among the groups.ConclusionsThis study showed promising results regarding the effectiveness of Sanubari OHP in improving mental well-being among junior doctors.

Assessment of Psychological Well-being of Doctors Working in Public and Private Hospitals of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

Healthcare workers are prone to develop psychological distress due to overwhelming responsibilities. This can lower their job performance as well as patient satisfaction. Objectives: To assess the psychological well-being of doctors who were working in public and private hospitals of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for six months, during which data were gathered from a sample of 214 participants chosen through non-probability convenient sampling at various public and private hospitals in the region. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. An Independent sample t-test was applied to compare the psychological well-being of doctors working in the public and private sectors. DASS scale and self-rated held were used to assess the mental health of doctors. Results: Among the 214 respondents, the majority were male doctors. Moreover, the study population’s majority was working in the public sector. It was noted that the majority of the study population lies in the normal to mild range of depression, anxiety, and stress. Results also revealed that there was no significant difference in the psychological health of doctors in public and private hospitals. Conclusion: It was concluded that the psychological health of doctors working in public and private hospitals of Gilgit Baltistan has no significant difference.

Assessment of depressive symptoms among medical students and doctors using PHQ-9

Medical students and doctors are at increased risk of experiencing depression. Doctors exhibit varying severity of depression symptoms at different stages of their careers. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms among medical students and doctors using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). We conducted a cross-sectional study in Lithuania from February to March 2024, using an anonymous online questionnaire that collected demographic data and included the PHQ-9. A score of ≥10 indicated criteria for depression. The questionnaire was completed by 146 respondents, comprising 77 medical students and 69 doctors or resident doctors. Overall, 40% of respondents met the criteria for depression, including 48% of medical students and 32% of doctors. Medical students had a higher mean PHQ-9 score compared to doctors, and the difference in PHQ-9 scores between students and doctors was significant (P = 0.045). No significant differences were found in PHQ-9 scores between genders (P = 0.430) or among respondents living in different city sizes (P = 0.780). Our data align with the literature findings that medical students exhibit higher depression scores than doctors. The study underscores the importance of regularly monitoring the emotional well-being of medical students and doctors and implementing interventions to improve their emotional health.

The Role of Social Support and Sleep Quality in the Psychological Well-Being of Nurses and Doctors.

Social support enhances the development of adaptive strategies to cope with difficulties, which may affect psychological well-being. Sleep quality has been highlighted as having a relevant role in psychological well-being. The present study aimed to analyse the role of social support and sleep quality in the psychological well-being of health professionals (nurses and doctors) compared to the general population. The sample comprised 466 adults aged between 18 and 75 (M = 43.4; SD = 10.8), of which 272 were the general population and 194 nurses and doctors. Data were collected through a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Psychological Well-Being Manifestation Measure Scale. Nurses presented less balance (also doctors), sociability and happiness than other professionals. Less significant sociability was observed in nurses compared with doctors. The results also allowed us to observe the positive role of social support from significant others on social involvement and sociability and the positive role of the family in self-esteem. Social support from friends played a positive role in all dimensions of psychological well-being. Males had a higher prevalence of psychological well-being. Other professionals and sleep quality show high levels of psychological well-being in all dimensions. Data discussion highlights the role of social support, sleep, and sex and the implications of health professions (nurses and doctors) on psychological well-being.

Well-being in newly qualified doctors: exploring the value of peer-led reflective sessions

IntroductionFollowing the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing pressures within the National Health Service, there has been an increasing concern about the well-being of junior doctors in the UK. Newly qualified doctors...

Developing a typology of interventions to support doctors’ mental health and wellbeing

BackgroundThe problem of mental ill-health in doctors is complex, accentuated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and impacts on healthcare provision and broader organisational performance. There are many interventions to address the problem but currently no systematic way to categorise them, which makes it hard to describe and compare interventions. As a result, implementation tends to be unfocussed and fall short of the standards developed for implementing complex healthcare interventions. This study aims to develop: 1) a conceptual typology of workplace mental health and wellbeing interventions and 2) a mapping tool to apply the typology within research and practice.MethodsTypology development was based on iterative cycles of analysis of published and in-practice interventions, incorporation of relevant theories and frameworks, and team and stakeholder group discussions.ResultsThe newly developed typology and mapping tool enable interventions to be conceptualised and/or mapped into different categories, for example whether they are designed to be largely preventative (by either improving the workplace or increasing personal resources) or to resolve problems after they have arisen. Interventions may be mapped across more than one category to reflect the nuance and complexity in many mental health and wellbeing interventions. Mapping of interventions indicated that most publications have not clarified their underlying assumptions about what causes outcomes or the theoretical basis for the intervention.ConclusionThe conceptual typology and mapping tool aims to raise the quality of future research and promote clear thinking about the nature and purpose of interventions, In doing so it aims to support future research and practice in planning interventions to improve the mental health and wellbeing of doctors.

THE IMPACT OF BURNOUT SYNDROME IN MEDICINE

Burnout syndrome is an increasingly prevalent mental health problem in medicine, characterized by physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and stressful work. This study aims to review the impact of burnout syndrome in medicine, highlighting its causes, symptoms and consequences for the health of professionals. This study aims to analyze the impact of burnout syndrome on the mental health of medical professionals, identifying its main causes, symptoms and consequences. In addition, it seeks to present strategies for preventing and managing this syndrome, with a view to promoting the health and well-being of doctors, highlighting the importance of the mental health of health professionals and discussing measures to promote a healthier and more balanced working environment. This is a bibliographical review, using qualitative premises, with the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Scielo databases. To better refine the research, the health descriptors “Burnout Syndrome”, “Health Professionals”, “Occupational Stress” and “Mental Health” were used. Burnout syndrome in medicine can be triggered by various factors, including excessive workload, lack of emotional support, pressure for results and long working hours. Symptoms include emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and decreased professional fulfillment. The impact of burnout syndrome in medicine is significant, affecting not only the mental health of professionals, but also the quality of care provided to patients. Doctors with burnout are more likely to make medical mistakes, suffer from physical and mental health problems and have lower job satisfaction. Therefore, in order to prevent and manage burnout syndrome, it is important for medical professionals to adopt self-care strategies, such as practicing regular physical activity, setting healthy work limits and seeking emotional support when necessary. In addition, health institutions should promote an organizational culture that values the well-being of professionals and offers adequate support to prevent and treat burnout syndrome. It can therefore be concluded that burnout syndrome is a serious problem in medicine, with significant impacts on the health and well-being of professionals. It is essential that doctors are aware of the signs of this syndrome and adopt measures to prevent and manage its effects. In addition, healthcare institutions should implement policies and practices that promote a healthy and supportive work environment for their professionals.

Junior doctors’ workplace well-being and the determinants based on ability–motivation–opportunity (AMO) theory: Educational and managerial implications from a three-year longitudinal observation after graduation

Purpose Junior doctors function as trainees from an educational perspective and as employees from a human resource management perspective. Employing the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) theory as a conceptual framework, this study longitudinally investigated the factors affecting the workplace well-being and career progression of junior doctors over a 3-year period following their graduation from medical schools. Materials and methods This 3-year prospective cohort study enrolled junior doctors who graduated from 2 medical schools in June 2019 in Taiwan. This study collected data by implementing web-based, self-administered structured questionnaires at 3-month intervals between September 2019 and July 2022. The collected data encompassed ability indicators (i.e. academic performance and perceived preparedness for clinical practice), motivation indicators (i.e. educational and clinical supervision), opportunity indicators (i.e. clinical unit cultures), and workplace well-being indicators (i.e. burnout, compassion satisfaction, and job performance). A total of 107 junior doctors participated, providing 926 total responses. The data were analysed using univariate analyses and structural equation modelling with path analysis. Results Over the 3-year period following graduation, the junior doctors’ confidence in their preparedness for clinical practice and the educational and clinical supervision had varying degrees of influence on the junior doctors’ workplace well-being. The influence of clinical unit cultures, which can provide opportunities for junior doctors, became evident starting from the second year postgraduation; notably, unit cultures that emphasised flexibility and discretion played positive and critical roles in enhancing the junior doctors’ workplace well-being lasted to the third year. Conclusions Our findings provide insights into the distinct critical factors that affect the socialisation of junior doctors within workplace environments over 3 consecutive years. These findings can provide guidance for medical educators and healthcare managers, helping them understand and support the progressive integration of junior doctors into their work environments.

AMU patient list generation: from junior scribe to junior doctor

This quality improvement project (QIP) aimed to assess the impact of automating patient list generation on the acute medical unit (AMU) at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust. The...

Associations between corporate ownership of primary care providers and doctor wellbeing, workload, access, organizational efficiency, and service quality

Traditionally, in many countries general practices have been privately-owned independent small businesses. However, the last three decades has seen the rise of large corporate medical groups defined as private companies which are able to have non-GP shareholders and with branches across many locations. The greater prominence of profit motives may have implications for costs, access to care and quality of care. We estimate that 45% of GPs in Australia worked in a practice that was a private company, and within this group over one third (19.9% of total) worked in a corporate medical group (a private company with 10 or more practice locations). We examine the association between being in a corporate medical group and 19 outcomes classified into five groups: GP wellbeing, workload, patient access, organizational efficiency, and service quality. GPs who worked in such groups were more likely to be older, qualified overseas, and to have a conscientious personality. There was mixed evidence on GPs wellbeing, with GPs in corporate medical groups reporting a higher turnover of GPs but similar levels of job satisfaction. GP workload was similar in terms of hours worked and after hours work but they reported a lower work-life balance. Patient access was better in terms of lower fees charged to patients but there was weak evidence that patients waited longer. GPs in corporate medical groups reported higher organisational efficiency because GPs spent less time spent on administration and management, had more nurses per GP, but despite this GPs were more likely to undertake tasks someone less qualified could do suggesting that nurses were complements not substitutes. There were no differences in service quality (teaching, patient complaints, consultation length, patients seen per hour). Corporate medical groups have become a substantial part of primary care provision in Australia. There is evidence they are more efficient, patient access is better with lower out of pocket costs and there are no differences in our measures service quality, but concerns remain about GP's wellbeing and work-life balance. Further research is needed on continuity of care and patient reported experiences and health outcomes.

‘That's just how medicine is': A remote ethnographic study of Ireland's failure to meet the core work needs of its hospital doctors

This study focuses on hospital doctors' experiences of work during the pandemic. The context is the Irish health system, under considerable strain due to the pandemic and a legacy of austerity/under-funding. Although medicine is considered a prestigious job, hospital doctors often endure challenging working conditions and work-life imbalance. In this paper we consider how a narrative of ‘medicine-as-vocation’ is used to excuse challenging working conditions and to impede change. West and Coia (2019) proposed a set of core work needs required to support doctor wellbeing and minimise work-related stress, i.e. autonomy/control, belonging and competence and these are applied as a lens to examine the everyday work experiences of respondent hospital doctors. Data collection was conducted in 2021 using a remote ethnographic method – Mobile Instant Messaging Ethnography (MIME) - developed by the research team to enable data collection at a time of pandemic restrictions (Humphries, Byrne, et al, 2022). Twenty-eight hospital doctors were recruited for the study. Each respondent was interviewed twice and engaged in a 12-week conversation with the research team via WhatsApp. We report hospital doctors' experiences of heavy workloads, weak line management and the challenges of influencing change at work. Overall, the findings presented demonstrate the myriad ways that Ireland is failing to meet the core work needs of its hospital doctors and how ‘medicine-as-vocation’ is used to justify organisational neglect.

Achieving Competency for Year 1 Doctors in Singapore: Comparing Night Float or Traditional Call

Introduction: The night float (NF) system has been instituted in some hospitals in Singapore to improve the working hours and wellbeing of junior doctors. There have been concerns of compromised learning and patient safety with NF. The objective of this study is to compare clinical competency outcomes, based on existing assessment framework, between post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) doctors working on NF versus traditional call (TC) systems. The secondary aim was to explore patient safety outcomes between these groups of PGY1s. Methods: Data on the formal assessments of PGY1s using the Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and medical errors were prospectively collected between May 2021 and April 2022 from two hospitals that employed different on-call systems. Data was analysed descriptively. Categorical data was analysed using the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test where appropriate. Results: One hundred and ninety-three PGY1s consented to the study. There was no statistically significant difference in the clinical competency of PGY1s in both groups. The number of PGY1s who had ‘needs improvement’ scores in a detailed EPA was not significantly different (9.0% in the NF group versus vs 3.7% in the TC group (p = 0.14)). They nonetheless passed the overall core EPA and no PGY1 failed their postings. No serious reportable medical errors occurred in either group. Conclusion: PGY1s who worked on NF are equally competent compared to those who worked on TC based on the EPA assessment matrix. Patient safety is not compromised by PGY1s working on NF. Keywords: Clinical competence, Float, Junior doctor, Patient safety, Wellbeing

Perceived implications of COVID-19 on physical, mental and social aspects of resident doctors in a tertiary care hospital.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put health care systems of many countries under major stress. Due to its high transmission capacity, it has spread across the globe at a rampant pace. India is one of the countries which has been severely affected by COVID-19. It has posed onerous tasks in front of doctors. Along with it, it has left physical, social and mental implications on well-being of doctors. The purpose of this study is to get an in-depth understanding about the implications of COVID-19 on physical, social and mental aspects of resident doctors in tertiary care hospital. We performed a qualitative study which involved in-depth interviews of resident doctors who have worked during the COVID-19 pandemic from general medicine department of tertiary care hospital. Interviews were then manually transcribed and analyzed. Data analysis by preparing transcript unveiled that doctors were constantly facing burnout and mental distress along with less social support. Our study also found that there was a shortage of resources and demonstrated poor doctor patient ratio which led to a decrease in efficiency of doctors. Our findings are not only confined to doctors facing burden but has also explored sanguine perceptions of resident doctors. While treating COVID-19 patients, resident doctors suffered a great setback. Providing them with mental aid, social support, ample resources and decreasing their work burden is recommended to effectively manage future pandemic.

PROFESSIONAL WELL-BEING AND RESILIENCE OF DOCTORS AND MEDICAL STAFF

Background. The well-being of doctors and medical staff is vital to their professional activities. Resilience is recognized as a key condition for well-being and is an important factor in socionomic professions. In medical practice, resilience helps doctors and medical staff cope with difficulties and overcome burnout.
 Purpose. The aim is to study the relationship of well-being in the professional activities of doctors and medical personnel with resilience and conditions supporting it.
 Methods. A group of 178 medical workers, including doctors, secondary and junior medical personnel, was studied. The resilience scale provided a general indicator of resilience and its components, the WHO well-being scale assessed well-being over the past two weeks. The attractiveness of the profession, the mood it evokes and the satisfaction of the individual with the need for security were evaluated. The relationships between the variables were studied using Spearman correlation coefficients, taking into account the position and multiple regression analysis.
 Results. Significant positive correlations were found between well-being and general resilience (r = 0,599, p < 0,01), position (r = 0,361, p < 0,01), attractiveness of the profession (r = 0,359, p < 0,01), mood (r = 0,361, p < 0,01) and satisfaction with the need for security (r = 0,159, p < 0,05).
 Conclusion. Well-being in the professional sphere of doctors and medical personnel is associated with commitment to professional activity, control and risk-taking, attractiveness of the profession, the mood that it causes, satisfaction of the need for psychological security. The results obtained confirm the consideration of resilience as a resource component of the professional well-being of doctors and medical personnel. Strategies for ensuring well-being in the profession should take into account the practices of interventions that stimulate the identified correlates.

How can NHS trusts in England optimise strategies to improve the mental health and well-being of hospital doctors? The Care Under Pressure 3 (CUP3) realist evaluation study protocol

IntroductionThe growing incidence of mental ill health in doctors was a major issue in the UK and internationally, even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has significant and far-reaching implications,...

Sustainable dermatology-A practical guide for the Australian dermatologist.

Globally, healthcare systems can account for up to 10% of national CO2 emissions. There is increasing awareness of the need to act to reduce the impact on our planet by living sustainably in our personal and professional lives. Literature on sustainability can be complex, and with so many demands on our attention and time, it is challenging for the practising dermatologist to grasp where to begin. This manuscript provides a practical guide with quantifiable impacts for each action. With mindful use of resources, both profitability and the well-being of patients and doctors can align with environmental protection.

The experience of racial discrimination among ethnic minority healthcare professionals in Ireland

Abstract Background Racial discrimination towards ethnic minorities permeates healthcare systems of many countries. This study aimed to strengthen the understanding of the experience of racial discrimination among ethnic-minority healthcare professionals in Ireland. The objective was to explore the lived experience of racial discrimination and its impact on the health and well-being of nurses and doctors in this local context. Methods Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to explore participants' experiences. Purposive and snowball sampling strategies were used to recruit sixteen ethnic minority nurses and physicians, working in diverse roles across Irish private and public healthcare sectors. In-depth semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data. A brief questionnaire was used to obtain information on participants’ demographic profiles. Findings Ethnic minority healthcare professionals experienced racial discrimination from colleagues, patients, and families; and this discrimination was interpersonal, structural, and institutional. Three core themes, and a number of related sub-themes, were identified; including: (1) Experiences of racial discrimination ((a) overt and subtle, (b) excessive reporting, (c) lack of safe space and trust, (d) being overlooked), (2) Responses to racial discrimination ((a) navigating racism, (b) tolerating in silence, (c) surviving and thriving, (d) seeking support); and (3) Impact of racial discrimination ((a) psychological impacts, (b) physical impacts, and (c) financial impact). Conclusions This study demonstrated that ethnic minority healthcare professionals have experienced racial discrimination in the Irish healthcare setting, which significantly impacted their health and well-being. By giving voice to these healthcare professionals, this study highlighted challenges facing Irish healthcare systems and the need for drastic change.

Medical Specialty Interest Survey (MSIS): understanding career interest and specialty training in commencing Australian medical interns

AimTo assess specialisation interests in commencing interns and create a standardised survey to aid medical schools, supervisors and health services in quantifying, understanding and supporting medical career development to improve...

Assessing the Well-Being at Work of Nurses and Doctors in Hospitals: Protocol for a Scoping Review of Monitoring Instruments.

Well-being at work can be defined as "creating an environment to promote a state of contentment which allows an employee to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and their organisation." In the health care context, well-being at work of nurses and doctors is important for good patient care. Moreover, it is strongly associated with individual- and organization-level consequences. Relevant literature presents models and concepts of physical, mental, and social well-being. This study uses the 6 elements of the job demands-resources (JD-R) model to interpret well-being at work (job demands, job resources, personal resources, leadership, well-being, and outcomes) as part of a Netherlands Federation of University Medical Hospitals program to find ways to improve and monitor health care professionals' well-being in Dutch hospitals. Many instruments exist to measure well-being at work in terms of population, setting, and other aspects. An overview of available and eligible instruments assessing and monitoring the well-being of nurses and doctors is currently missing. We will perform a scoping review aiming to provide an overview of validated instruments assessing and monitoring the well-being of nurses and doctors at work. We will perform a search of published literature in the following databases: Medline, Embase, and CINAHL. Studies will be eligible if they (1) assess well-being at work of nurses and doctors employed in hospitals; (2) describe an evaluation of an instrument or review an instrument; (3) measure well-being at work or aspects of well-being at work according to the elements of the JD-R model, and (4) were published in English from 2011 onwards. Title/abstract screening according to the eligibility criteria will be followed by full-text screening. Data extraction of included studies will be conducted by 3 reviewers independently. Reviewers will use standardized data extraction forms that include study characteristics, sample characteristics, measurement instrument details, and psychometric properties. The analysis will be descriptive. When synthesizing the data, a distinction will be made between comprehensive instruments and common instruments. This scoping review identifies instruments that have been developed and validated for monitoring the well-being of nurses and doctors at work. Studies were searched between September and December 2021 and screened between December 2021 and May 2022. A total of 739 studies were included. Timely screening of well-being at work may be beneficial for individual health care workers, the organization, and patients. There is often a substantial gap and mismatch between employer perceptions of well-being and well-being interventions. It is important to develop and implement suitable interventions adapted to the needs of nurses and doctors and their health or other problems. Well-being screening should be timely to gain insight into these needs and problems. Moreover, to determine the effectiveness of well-being interventions, measurement is mandatory. The results will be critical for organizations to select a monitoring instrument that best fits the needs of employees and organizations. DERR1-10.2196/43692.

Occupational Stress Affects Well-Being and Job Performance of Doctors: A Case Study in the Covid-19 Epidemic Context

Objective: The goal of the study is to demonstrate the impact of work stress on the well-being and performance of doctors in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic. Method: In this study, quota sampling based on the criteria such as gender, age, education background, working place is used to collect data. The survey areas are major cities in Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City, and Can Tho City. After the data screening step, the study collects 252 observations. The study applies structural equation modeling to analyze the data. Results: The result has shown factors constituting doctors’ occupational stress include work overload, pressure from superiors, time pressure, income pressure, working conditions, and workplace relationships. Stress at work negatively affects doctors' well-being and performance. Besides, the study has pointed out a positive relationship between perceived happiness and doctors’ performance. Conclusions: Hospital administrators need to control the causes of work pressure to improve the feeling of happiness and performance. The causes include work overload, pressure from superiors, time pressure, income pressure, working conditions, and workplace relationships. In particular, work overload needs to be paid the most attention.