Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

A Conceptual Model Of Organizational Compassion In Healthcare, Rachel Thienprayoon, Eli Awtrey, Teresa Pestian, Beth A. Lown, Naomi Winick, Jason Kanov

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: In healthcare, while the suffering of patients is often evident, the suffering of clinicians receives less focus. Some sources of clinician distress are directly related to constant exposure to patient suffering, but others are caused by the health care system, and thus potentially preventable. Looking at clinician suffering through the lens of compassion fosters a new paradigm of individual, team, and organizational capabilities, and moves the responsibility to alleviate this suffering from the individual onto the organization and team. Yet research into the impact of organizational compassion in healthcare has been extremely limited.

Approach: Our conceptual model of organizational …

Wellness Review 2023, Part 1, Brian A. Ferguson, Martin Huecker

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: The 2023 Part 1 summary reviews research on wellness in healthcare professionals published outside of JWellness from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023.

Methods: Editors conducted a Boolean search of titles and abstracts in PubMed utilizing keyword identifiers pairing healthcare personnel (providers, nurses, and other staff) with a well-being metric. Of 416 relevant articles, an intriguing and innovative 30 were selected for inclusion, with two additional articles manually curated.

Literature in Review: This sample of the recent literature into healthcare professional wellness included multiple targeted interventions and studies of resilience. Main themes that emerged include: positive systematic healthcare …

Sexual Well-Being Among Medical Residents At A Community-Based Academic Institution, Fiore Casale, Hinduja Nallamala, Todd Foster, Christine Alicea, Laurel Fick

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Medical residency training is demanding, with challenging workloads, long hours, and excessive stress that impact residents’ physical, mental, and emotional health. Although the concept of health and wellness in residency has become more widespread across programs, few studies have explored the sexual health of medical residents during training.

Methods: To better understand the current state of sexual health and well-being of resident physicians, physicians in training across Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, OB/GYN, Transitional Year, and General Surgery completed anonymous surveys that incorporated validated questionnaires, including the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Index of Premature Ejaculation …

Utilization Of Wellness Practices For Burnout And Stress During Covid-19 Among An Interdisciplinary Cohort Of Emergency Healthcare Workers, Michael J. Zdradzinski, Sheri-Ann O. Kaltiso, Roslyn Seitz, Timothy P. Moran, Jennifer Clements, Sheryl L. Heron, Michelle D. Lall

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) introduced additional stress to the baseline occupational stressors of emergency care workers. The objectives of this study were to evaluate perceived stress and burnout and the utilization and perceived benefit of wellness practices among emergency healthcare workers (EHCWs), including: emergency physicians, advanced practice providers (APPs), nurses, and departmental administrative staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional 28-item electronic survey of EHCWs at three hospitals in a major United States city was used to measure participants’ utilization and perceived benefit of wellness practices, burnout (2-item measure), overall stress (perceived stress scale), and stress …

Women Physicians And Medical Conferences: A Pilot Survey Study Of Participation Challenges And Options To Optimize Wellness And Work-Life Integration, Marah N. Kays, Ekas Singh Abrol, Ariela L. Marshall

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Women physicians experience challenges in career advancement, work-life integration (WLI), and wellness. Participation (attending and speaking) at academic conferences is one way for women physicians to advance their careers, but barriers to physical participation (travel, WLI) pose challenges. Virtual participation options may enhance career advancement. In this pilot study, we explored women physicians’ conference participation patterns and preferences regarding virtual participation options.

Methods: In this cross-sectional pilot study of 70 women physicians from the Physician Women in Leadership (PWL) and Physician Moms Group (PMG) Facebook groups, we collected demographic, burnout, and WLI data, information on barriers to …

Wellness Review 2022, Part 2, Martin Huecker, Brian A. Ferguson, Jacob Shreffler

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Similar to prior reviews, the Journal of Wellness editors searched the literature from the second half of 2022 for an interesting and impactful selection of publications on wellness in healthcare professionals.

Methods: Editors conducted a standard keyword search in Pubmed, focusing chiefly on large journals, interventional trials, and other prospective research. We included papers published between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.

Literature in Review: Finding several hundred publications, we excluded editorials, reviews, and some smaller, less generalizable papers. A final 25 significant studies focusing on wellness in medical professionals were sorted into the following categories: logistics, creativity …

Variable Shift Lengths Negatively Affect Emergency Medicine Resident Wellness, Marcus Fazzari, Joseph Longobardi, Joseph Mccarthy, Matthew Hysell, Sidney Hann

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Burnout is very common in emergency medicine and there has been extensive research evaluating factors that contribute to burnout. We sought to examine the contributions of post-graduate year (PGY), shifts worked per month, patients seen per shift, and length of shifts to emergency medicine resident burnout.

Methods: All emergency medicine residents were surveyed with regards to their PGY, shifts worked per month, patients seen per shift, and length of shifts. They were administered the Stanford Wellness Survey and asked to globally rate their degree of burnout. We then modeled whether consideration of the surveyed factors increased the …

Assessing The Efficacy Of A Meditation Intervention On Dispositional Mindfulness Among Medical Students And Resident Physicians, Kelsey Stefan, Michael Villeneuve, Varun Konanki, Erica Rarity, Rahul Mhaskar, Liwei Chen, Amelia Phillips

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Dispositional mindfulness is the act of paying attention to one’s thoughts and feelings with an open and non-judgemental attitude. Medical students and resident physicians are under immense pressure and stress daily, and they need effective tools to help increase their dispositional mindfulness. This project examined the impact of a meditation intervention on medical students’ dispositional mindfulness.

Methods: In 2020, medical students and resident physicians at the University of South Florida were given the option to practice daily meditation for thirty days; time spent on the practice varied depending on comfort with the practice. Dispositional mindfulness levels were assessed using …

Development And Use Of A Survey Tool To Prioritize And Catalyze Change Surrounding Faculty Wellness In A Department Of Pediatrics, Sarah Rhoads, Alison Riese, Mohammed Faizan, Lloyd Feit, Shuba Kamath, Albert Ross, Katherine Mason

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Physician wellness is an important factor in the delivery of safe, effective and humanistic patient care. There is compelling data describing the widespread prevalence of physician burnout and its subsequent adverse impact on patient care, healthcare costs, and relationships. Initiatives to improve wellness are necessary to maintain the healthcare work force as well as to ensure high-quality care. This project investigated faculty physicians’ attitudes and priorities regarding physician wellness within the department of Pediatrics at a single-center academic institution.

Methods: A survey was created and distributed via e-mail to all faculty physicians employed within the Department of Pediatrics in …

Wellness Review 2022, Part 1, Martin Huecker, Brian A. Ferguson, Jacob Shreffler

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: This article represents the first of a two-part assessment of 2022 literature addressing wellness in healthcare professionals published from January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022.

Methods: Three editors conducted a similar keyword search in Pubmed, also adding manually curated articles. Focusing chiefly on clinical trials and other prospective research, we settled on a final 25 significant papers focusing on wellness in medical professionals to include in this review.

Literature Review: Recent literature into HCW wellness continues to describe burnout factors and COVID-19 impact, but includes more resilience-targeting interventions and systematic reviews of trials seeking bolstering of well-being. Subsections …

Wellness And Professional Quality Of Life In Counselor-In-Training Interns: Assessment Of Wellness And Non-Wellness-Infused Supervision, Ashley J. Blount, Abby L. Bjornsen, Daniel B. Kissinger, Kara Schneider, Lindsay Vik, Jessica Gonzalez-Voller

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Counselors-in-training (CITs) commonly encounter issues of burnout, compassion fatigue, and/or vicarious traumatization due to the nature of their jobs in the helping profession. Wellness infused supervision may help CITs foster personal wellness and mitigate deleterious effects of helping. This investigation examined connections related to counselor-in-training wellness and professional quality of life during an internship-level supervision course across a wellness and control section.

Methods: A quasi-experimental design was piloted, comparing a wellness-focused supervision internship section with a non-wellness control group supervision internship section during one academic semester. Participants included 15 clinical mental health CITs (9 experimental; 6 control), who were …

Wellness Review 2021, Part 2, Brian A. Ferguson, Martin Huecker

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: This article presents Part 2 of the biannual JWellness Review of literature from 2021 (July – December). We emphasize new science and resilience initiatives published outside of JWellness that seek understanding of burnout and thriving among healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Methods: For the interval of July 1 to December 30, 2021, PubMed was queried for empirical and observational research studies, review articles, guideline summaries, letters, and editorials. Of 93 results, we reviewed methods and salient points to arrive at a final list of 48 articles for inclusion.

Literature in Review: Common themes that emerged included teamwork, EMR optimization, group decompression, …

Ideas To Action: Using Curriculum Design To Develop A “Roadmap To Wellness” Curriculum, Christine R. Stehman, Kelly Williamson, Erin Dehon, Al'ai Alvarez, Manish Garg, Michelle D. Lall

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Physician burnout, well-being, and professional fulfillment are deeply intertwined topics that are increasingly recognized as affecting the lives of physicians, health care workers, and patients alike. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandates that all residencies address wellness within the context of residency training without providing much guidance on how to do so. Emergency Medicine organizations such as the American College of Emergency Physicians, the American Academy of Emergency Physicians, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and the Council of Residency Directors of Emergency Medicine (CORD) suggest that one method to address wellness is in the …

Resident-Led Physical Wellness Initiative Linked To Less Burnout For Emergency Physicians During Covid-19 Pandemic, Camila A. Calderón, Adeola A. Kosoko, Salil K. Bhandari, Jason A. Lesnick, Derek R. Herkes, Ryan M. Huebinger

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a significant toll on societal, physical, and psychological health. Emergency physicians (EPs) are susceptible to burnout under ordinary circumstances and may be particularly vulnerable during the pandemic. To reduce pandemic-related burnout, we implemented a residency-led physical wellness initiative and evaluated the effect on burnout among EPs.

Methods: In the spring of 2020, we invited all resident and attending EPs in our department to participate in a four-week physical wellness initiative as part of a prospective study. After completing or opting out of this wellness initiative, EPs responded to an online survey comprised …

Emergency Medicine Shift Factors Causing The Most Stress Among Emergency Medicine Residents, Mohamad Moussa, Kristen Hayden, Chia-Hao Shih, Sadik Khuder, Zayd Safadi, Connor Parsell

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Past studies demonstrate that stress and anxiety affect emergency medicine physicians, but the causal factors identified are usually from sources outside the work shift. We attempt to show the relationship between intrinsic factors of a work shift and anxiety perceived by residents, while also examining differing gender responses.

Methods: In 2018, a cross-sectional survey of emergency medicine residents in the United States was distributed anonymously through the Emergency Medicine Residents Association. The survey consisted of demographic questions, novel questions identifying intrinsic factors, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. Spearman correlation, independent t-test, and multivariate analysis of variance …

Wellness Review 2021, Part 1, Martin Huecker, Brian A. Ferguson, Jacob Shreffler

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: This article presents a curated selection of the wellness literature from January to June of 2021. JWellness editors offer a summary of recent publications within the wellness domain to seek an understanding of both burnout prevention and, more importantly, thriving in the medical profession.

Methods: For the interval of Jan 1 to June 30, 2021, a UofL librarian queried PubMed for empirical research studies, review articles, and editorials related to healthcare professional wellness. Excluding papers related to COVID-19 (due to extensive prior coverage) and editorials/commentaries, the editors narrowed to 43 articles (systematic reviews, meta-analyses, general reviews, and clinical trials) …

Reducing “Treble” With Performance Focused Music Programs In Medical School: A Student Driven Needs Assessment To Clarify Participation Barriers Amongst Undergraduate Medical Students, Alexander Tu, Tiffany Truong, Kristy J. Carlson, Matthew J. Brooks, Jayme R. Dowdall

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: The beneficial impact of performing arts involvement within undergraduate medical education, such as music, has been studied, but support for the arts varies significantly by institution. Research has suggested that medical student involvement in the arts can help develop their identities as physicians and may reduce stress and burnout, an increasingly difficult problem within the medical student community.

Methods: We used a mixed-method cross-sectional study design, using a questionnaire and semi-structured interview designed amongst a team of music professionals and healthcare providers with music backgrounds. Out of 511 enrolled medical students, 93 students participated in the study for a …

Medical Schools Ignore The Nature Of Consciousness At Great Cost, Anoop Kumar

Journal of Wellness

The essential question of the relationship between consciousness and matter is ignored in medical school curricula, leading to a machine-like view of the human being that contributes to physician burnout and intellectual dissatisfaction. The evidence suggesting that the brain may not be the seat of consciousness is generally ignored to preserve the worldview of the primacy of matter. By investigating new frameworks detailing the nature of consciousness at different levels of hierarchy, we can bring intellectual rigor to a once opaque subject that supports a fundamental reality about our experience: We are human beings, not only human bodies.

Gme: Gym In Medical Education-Maintaining Physical And Mental Well Being During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Brian J. Nguyen, Elana A. Meer, Joyce E. Nguyen

Journal of Wellness

No abstract provided.

The Complicated Path To Wellness, Jennifer Reese, Martin Huecker

Journal of Wellness

No abstract provided.

Wellness Review 2020, Part 2, Brian Ferguson, Martin Huecker

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: This article comprises Part 2 of the Journal of Wellness review of 2020 wellness literature (July – December). In this review, JWellness editors continue the goal of offering a cohesive summary of recent publications within the wellness domain. We summarize new science and resilience initiatives published outside of JWellness that seek understanding of either burnout and its prevention or thriving in the medical community.

Methods: From the interval of 01 July – 31 Dec 2020, PubMed was queried for empirical research studies, review articles, and editorials in accordance with the following algorithm: an article was required to …

The Crossroads Of Wellness And Second Victim Syndrome: Identifying Factors That Alter The Pathway Of Caregiver Recovery Following An Unanticipated Adverse Patient Outcome, Kimia Zarabian, A. Katharine Hindle, Ivy Benjenk, Anita Vincent, Jamil M. Kazma, Benjamin Shambon, Raymond Pla, Eric Heinz

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Second Victim Syndrome (SVS) describes the phenomenon in which a caregiver experiences a traumatic psychological and emotional response to an adverse patient event or medical error. Using quantitative survey analysis, we aim to better understand the personal factors that affect SVS development and recovery.

Methods: Caregivers at a small urban academic medical center who had experienced an adverse patient event in the past six months were invited to take part in this institution-wide, voluntary, quantitative, cross-sectional study. Three surveys were administered; the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory (HRLSI) was used as a surrogate to measure stressful life events. The …

Attitude Of Gratitude: Evaluation Of A Wellness Program To Improve Dispositional Gratitude Among Medical Students, Amelia C. Phillips, Farina A. Klocksieben

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Medical students face significant mental health challenges as they matriculate through medical training. Research has emphasized the need for more interventions that promote physician trainee well-being and resilience during the early stages of training. Recent interventions have shown to be effective in promoting mental health and well-being; however, no interventions have examined the impact that daily gratitude practice, which is linked to increased well-being, may have on dispositional gratitude levels among medical students.

Methods: In Spring 2019, medical students at the University of South Florida were invited to participate in a gratitude program. Participants logged three good things that …

Optimizing Wellness In Academic Emergency Medicine, Kristen E. Nordenholz, Al'ai Alvarez, Michelle D. Lall, Christine Stehman, Cindy C. Bitter, Emily L. Hirsh, Rita Manfredi, Rosanna D. Sikora, Dave W. Lu, Leon D. Sanchez, Matthew L. Wong, Steven Bird, Andra L. Blomkalns

Journal of Wellness

Introduction

Academic Emergency Physicians (EPs) face additional unique challenges in optimizing wellness compared to community EPs.

Objective

Our objective was to explore specific individual and systems challenges that academic EPs encounter that affect their wellbeing and professional fulfillment in emergency medicine (EM).

Methods

An expert group of academic EPs convened in 2019 at the annual meeting of the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine to investigate the overall causes of burnout in healthcare providers, the effects of burnout on the healthcare system, specific causes of burnout in EM, and the distinct challenges facing academic emergency physicians.

Results

We outline specific causes …

Wellness In The Helping Professions: Historical Overview, Wellness Models, And Current Trends, Ashley J. Blount, Dalena L. Dillman Taylor, Glenn W. Lambie

Journal of Wellness

Introduction

Wellness and the concept of holism have rich histories throughout the helping professions. However, Westernized medical models often promote the concept of treatment rather than prevention, limiting the helper’s ability to focus on wellness when working with clients/patients. Therefore, in order to support a re-integration to holistic wellness and the prevention of illness, and re-focus on a wellness ideology, we conducted a thorough theoretical overview of wellness in the helping professions to: (a) provide a historical overview of wellness in helping professions, (b) discuss prominent wellness models, (c) review wellness assessments, (d) present wellness supervision models, and (e) offer …

Wellness Review 2020, Part 1, Jacob Shreffler, Brian A. Ferguson, Martin Huecker

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Welcome to Part 1 of the bi-annual Journal of Wellness review of 2020 wellness literature (January – June). In this review, JWellness editors continue the goal of bringing a cohesive awareness of recent publications within the wellness domain, encompassing wellness leaders from all disciplines in healthcare. We provide insight into unique perspectives and new science published outside of JWellness, dealing with burnout prevention and wellness initiative implementation.

Methods: PubMed was searched for empirical research studies, review articles, and editorials using keywords such as “wellness,” “well-being,” “burnout” and “healthcare professionals.” We have included 26 articles in this review.

Literature in …

Stop Fighting The Coronavirus, Pranay Sinha

Journal of Wellness

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the refrain of war has echoed across the world. It has tainted the way we speak about the pandemic and shaped the way we think about it. Metaphors can direct thought and action. This essay reflects on the ways in which the metaphor of war is disrupting the way we relate to the pandemic, to our society, and to each other and concludes with an alternative metaphor.

Wellness Review 2019, Part 2, Brian A. Ferguson, Martin Huecker

Journal of Wellness

Welcome to Part 2 of the Journal of Wellness review of 2019 wellness literature (July-December). In this review, we continue the goal of bringing a cohesive awareness of recent publications within the wellness domain, encompassing wellness leaders from all disciplines in healthcare. We provide insight into unique perspectives and new science published outside of JWellness, dealing with burnout prevention and wellness initiative implementation.

A Comprehensive Residency Wellness Curriculum, Michael J. Zdradzinski, James O'Shea, Timothy P. Moran, David Caro, Paula G. Gomes, Robin Huskey, Sheryl L. Heron, Michelle D. Lall

Journal of Wellness

Introduction: Resident physician burnout is an epidemic in medical education. There are several wellness curricula published, but few describe a comprehensive program to address wellness. Our objectives were to develop and pilot a longitudinal resident wellness curriculum and assess for feasibility and sustainability.

Methods: We surveyed emergency medicine (EM) residents from two residency programs in the United States to assess a baseline level of burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. We developed a comprehensive and longitudinal wellness curriculum for EM residents that incorporated all domains identified by the American College of Emergency Physicians Wellness Wheel. Mindfulness practice was incorporated throughout …

Burnout Among Emergency Physicians Working At A Large Tertiary Centre In Ontario, Rushika Perera, Kristine Van Aarsen, Laura Foxcroft, Rodrick Lim

Journal of Wellness

BACKGROUND: Emergency medicine (EM) is a high-stress specialty. Work related stress and burnout have been reported to negatively impact physician-patient interactions, overall physician mental and physical health, and most importantly, patient outcomes. We assessed the rates of burnout among emergency physicians (EPs) at our centre.

METHODS: A local cross-sectional study to assess burnout among adult and pediatric EPs, fellows and residents was conducted at three Emergency Departments (EDs) at a single institution in Canada. The anonymous online survey encompassed demographics, the validated MBI tool (Maslach Burnout Inventory) and additional questions aimed at identifying determinants of EP burnout. Each respondent’s three …