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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Jan 1;42(1):e75-e82.
doi: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000404.

An Interprofessional Group Intervention to Promote Faculty Well-Being: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Susan R Hata  1 , Lori R Berkowitz, Kaitlyn James, Arabella L Simpkin
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

An Interprofessional Group Intervention to Promote Faculty Well-Being: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Susan R Hata et al. J Contin Educ Health Prof. .

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the effect on engagement, relational connection, and burnout of an intervention involving clinical faculty meeting in interprofessional self-facilitated groups and to determine whether a written discussion guide is necessary to achieve benefit.

Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial, conducted at a large US academic medical center from May to August 2018. Subjects included 25 clinical physicians, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives. The intervention involved three monthly self-facilitated groups for faculty. Groups were randomized to have no discussion guide, or to receive a one-page guide. Outcomes of burnout, engagement, and empowerment in work, and stress from uncertainty were assessed using validated metrics.

Results: Rates of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization decreased significantly over the course of the 3-month study (56%-36%; P < .001; and 20%-15%; P = .006) and overall burnout decreased from 56% to 41% of faculty (P = .002). The percentage of faculty who felt engaged in their work increased from 80% to 96% (P = .03). No statistically significant differences in empowerment at work or in reaction to uncertainty were seen. The groups without a discussion guide had equivalent outcomes and benefits. Cost per participant was under $100.

Discussion: A three-month, low-cost, self-facilitated series of dinner meetings for interprofessional clinical faculty decreased burnout and improved engagement, sense of connection to colleagues, and sense of departmental commitment to well-being. Structured discussion guides were not necessary to achieve benefit. This study broadens the possibilities for cost-effective opportunities to transform institutional culture and effectively enhance faculty well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: The authors declare no conflict of interest. S.H., A.S.B., and L.B. contributed significantly to the conception and design of the work. S.H., A.S.B., L.B., and K.J. contributed significantly to data collection, analysis, and interpretation of the work. All authors were involved in the drafting and revision of the work for important intellectual content and approved the final version of the manuscript before publication. S.H. and A.S.B. are the manuscript's guarantors. The corresponding author attests that all listed authors meet authorship criteria and that no others meeting the criteria have been omitted. All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf and declare: all authors had financial support from Massachusetts General Hospital for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. Transparency declaration: S.H. and A.S.B. affirm that this manuscript is an honest, accurate, and transparent account of the study being reported; that no important aspects of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the study as planned (and, if relevant, registered) have been explained. All authors had full access to all the data (including statistical reports and tables) in the study and can take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

References

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