Evaluation of self-care skills training and solution-focused counselling for health professionals in psychiatric medicine: a pilot study. (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mache, Stefanie; Bernburg, Monika; Baresi, Lisa; Groneberg, David A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice. Volume 20:Number 4(2016)
• Page Start: 239
• Page End: 244
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Job satisfaction -- job strain -- mental health -- resilience -- self-care -- stress management; Mental illness -- Periodicals; Older people -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1080/13651501.2016.1207085
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1365-1501

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this pilot study was to implement and to evaluate a self-care skills training with solution-focused counselling to support psychiatrists in handling their daily work challenges. Methods: A total of 72 psychiatrists working in a psychiatric clinic were randomised in a single-blind trial to either an intervention group or a control group. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at the end of the training (follow-up 1: after 3 months; follow-up 2: after 6 months). A validated questionnaire including the Perceived Stress Questionnaire, the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire, Brief Resilient Coping Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale and the Quality of Relationship Inventory was used. Results: Psychiatrists in the intervention group reached a significant reduction in perceived job stress ( p = 0.01, d = 0.05), improvements in job satisfaction ( p = 0.02, d = 0.04), resilience ( p = 0.02, d = 0.04) and self-efficacy ( p = 0.04, d = 0.02) from baseline to all follow-ups with no comparable results seen in the control group. Psychiatrists stated an improved quality of physician–patient relationship (e.g. support, conflict management; p < 0.05). Conclusions: A self-care skills training, including solution-focused counselling, for psychiatrists was associated with significant improvements in perceived stress, job satisfaction, individual protective skills and quality of relationship to patients. This training is suitable to implement as a group training program for psychiatrists.