Challenge and Support, Burn out Prevention

Physician burn-out is increasing, starting already among residents. The consequences of burn-out are not limited to physicians` well-being, they also pose a threat to patient care and safety. We implemented professional development-oriented coaching for medical professionals, both AIOs and staff, in a department-wide programme to improve patient care by paying attention to the professional personal development of all medical professionals and thus to sustainably contribute to a safe and stimulating learning and working culture.

Medical residents and specialists received six coaching sessions, while a control group did not undergo any treatment. The authors assessed burn-out symptoms of exhaustion and cynicism, the personal resources psychological capital, psychological flexibility and self-compassion, as well as job demands and job resources with validated questionnaires (January 2017 until August 2018) in four academic hospitals in the Netherlands. A final sample of 57 residents and specialists volunteered in an individual coaching programme. A control group of 57 physicians did not undergo any treatment. Coaching was provided by professional coaches during a period of approximately 10 months aiming at personal development and growth. The coaching group (response rate 68%, 57 physicians, 47 women) reported a reduction in burn-out symptoms and an increase in personal resources after the coaching intervention, while no such changes occurred in the control group (response rate 35%, 42 women), as indicated by significant time × group interactions, all p<0.01. Specifically, physicians increased their psychological capital (ηp 2=0.139), their self-compassion (ηp 2=0.083), and reported significantly less exhaustion (ηp 2=0.126), the main component of the burn-out syndrome.

Conclusion: This study suggests that individual coaching is a promising route to reduce burn-out symptoms in both residents and specialists. Moreover, it strengthens personal resources that play a crucial role in the prevention of burn-out. We will share experiences in implementation and evaluation of a professional development-oriented coaching for medical professionals programme.