Burnout and distress in Australian physician trainees: Evaluation of a wellbeing workshop. (June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Axisa, Carmen; Nash, Louise; Kelly, Patrick; Willcock, Simon
• Is Part Of: Australasian psychiatry. Volume 27:Number 3(2019:Jun.)
• Page Start: 255
• Page End: 261
• Publication Date: 2019-06
• Subjects: doctors' wellbeing -- burnout -- psychological distress -- stigma -- wellbeing workshop; Psychiatry -- Australasia -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.89005
• DOI: 10.1177/1039856219833793
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1039-8562

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a workshop intervention to promote wellbeing for Australian physician trainees using a randomized-controlled design. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The intervention group attended a half-day workshop. Outcome measures included depression anxiety stress scale, professional quality of life scale and alcohol use disorders identification test. Demographic and work/life factors were measured. Measurements were recorded at baseline, 3 and 6 months, and the workshop was evaluated by participants. Results: High rates of burnout (76%) and secondary traumatic stress (91%) were detected among study participants and around half met screening criteria for depression (52%), anxiety (46%) and stress (50%) at baseline. Workshop evaluations showed that participants agreed that the training was relevant to their needs (96%) and met their expectations (92%). There was a small reduction in alcohol use, depression and burnout in the intervention group compared with the control group at 6 months, but these changes did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: High rates of psychological morbidity detected in the study suggest that physician trainees are a vulnerable group who may benefit from initiatives that promote wellbeing and changes in the workplace to reduce distress.