• Malcolm Forbes, Lisa Byrom, Ira van der Steenstraten, Alex Markwell, Holly Bretherton, and Margaret Kay.
• Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
• Intern Med J. 2020 Jan 1; 50 (1): 92-99.

BackgroundJunior doctors experience high rates of psychological distress and burnout. System-level interventions are one strategy to reduce psychological distress in junior doctors. Unfortunately, few of these interventions have been evaluated.AimTo evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of a resilience and well-being programme designed for junior doctors.MethodsA prospective cohort study of 24 medical interns at a teaching hospital in regional Queensland with a control group of 29 medical interns at a second teaching hospital in regional Queensland. Survey instruments to assess psychological distress, the ProQOL and K10, were completed at baseline, at the completion of the well-being programme, and 3 months after the completion of the well-being programme at both sites.ResultsThe intervention site had an older cohort and fewer participants had a regular general practitioner compared to the control site. Both groups had moderate levels of psychological distress. Insufficient numbers of participants completing the instruments at the two sites meant that it was not possible to demonstrate differences between the groups; however, the trends were promising. Qualitative evaluation data supported these trends, indicating that the Resilience on the Run programme was positively received and provided useful skills to junior doctors.ConclusionWell-being programmes benefit medical interns; introducing new knowledge and skills for effectively identifying and managing personal and workplace stressors that can contribute to psychological distress.© 2019 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

25 keywords...

hide…