Impact of a Participatory Wellness Continuing Medical Education Program on Physician Burnout and Well-Being

Donald D Hensrud; Warren G Thompson; Thomas M Rieck; Colin P West; Sarah M Jenkins; Jennifer A Ferguson; Matthew M Clark

doi:10.1097/JOM.0000000000003190

Impact of a Participatory Wellness Continuing Medical Education Program on Physician Burnout and Well-Being

J Occup Environ Med. 2024 Oct 1;66(10):e487-e492. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003190. Epub 2024 Jul 16.

Authors

Donald D Hensrud¹, Warren G Thompson, Thomas M Rieck, Colin P West, Sarah M Jenkins, Jennifer A Ferguson, Matthew M Clark

Affiliation

¹ From the Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (D.D.H., T.M.R., C.P.W.); Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (D.D.H.); Division of Public Health, Infectious Disease, and Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (D.D.H., W.G.T.); Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (C.P.W., S.M.J.); Department of AI and Innovation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (J.A.F.); and Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (M.M.C.).

PMID: 39016281
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003190

Abstract

Objective: Examine the impact of a participatory wellness continuing medical education (CME) program on physician burnout, wellness, and well-being.

Methods: Physicians attending a 3-day wellness CME program. Self-reported questionnaires at baseline with paired analyses at 26-week follow-up.

Results: Compared to baseline, at 26 weeks there were decreases in burnout ( P < 0.001, ES -0.68), red meat consumption ( P = 0.02, ES -0.29), and current stress levels ( P < 0.001, ES -0.50). There were increases in fruit/vegetable consumption ( P < 0.001, ES 0.55), energy levels at work ( P < 0.001, ES 0.60) and at home ( P < 0.001, ES 0.66), quality of life ( P < 0.001, ES 0.53), and confidence ( P < 0.001, ES 0.89) and frequency ( P = 0.01, ES 0.32) of counseling patients on wellness.

Conclusion: Attendance at this participatory wellness CME program was associated with improved physician burnout, health behaviors in diet, stress, energy, quality of life, and wellness counseling.

MeSH terms

Adult
Burnout, Professional* / prevention & control
Burnout, Professional* / psychology
Diet
Education, Medical, Continuing*
Female
Health Promotion* / methods
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Physicians* / psychology
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires