Aimee Gayed1, Nathasha Kugenthiran2, Anthony D LaMontagne3, Helen Christensen4,5, Nick Glozier6, Samuel B Harvey7. 1. Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Black Dog Mental Health Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. 2. Research Officer at the Black Dog Mental Health Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. 3. Professor of Work, Health and Wellbeing at the Centre for Population Health Research, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; and Professorial Fellow at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. 4. Scientia Professor, Director and Chief Scientist at the Black Dog Mental Health Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. 5. Professor of Mental Health at University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. 6. Professor of Psychological Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. 7. Associate Professor and Director of Discovery at the Black Dog Mental Health Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Physician trainees have elevated rates of psychological distress, mental disorders and suicide. Physician supervisors can support the mental health needs of trainees. AIM: To test the feasibility and acceptability of a tailored online mental health training program and ascertain the potential effectiveness of the program to alter the confidence and behaviours of physician supervisors. METHODS: Thirty Australian hospital-based physicians who were supervising physician trainees, participated in this quasi-experimental pre-post pilot study. All received the intervention which comprised twelve 5-minute modules to complete over a 3-week period. Baseline and post-intervention data were collected. The primary outcome evaluated participants' confidence to respond to trainees experiencing mental ill-health and promote a mentally healthy workplace. Secondary outcomes evaluated change in self-reported behaviour, mental health knowledge and stigmatising attitudes. Differences in mean scale scores for each outcome measure from baseline and post-intervention were compared using paired sample t-tests. RESULTS: Thirty physicians completed the baseline assessment, and 23 (76.7%) completed all program modules. Most participants found the program engaging, interesting and useful. Post-intervention data, available for 25 (83.3%) participants, showed a significant increase in participants' knowledge of their role in supporting trainees under their supervision (p=0.002), confidence to initiate conversations about mental health with staff (p<0.001), and application of preventive and responsive supervisory behaviours to support the mental health needs of those they supervise (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This online mental health training program for physician supervisors was feasible and associated with improved confidence and behaviour to support the mental health needs of trainees they supervised. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Physician trainees have elevated rates of psychological distress, mental disorders and suicide. Physician supervisors can support the mental health needs of trainees. AIM: To test the feasibility and acceptability of a tailored online mental health training program and ascertain the potential effectiveness of the program to alter the confidence and behaviours of physician supervisors. METHODS: Thirty Australian hospital-based physicians who were supervising physician trainees, participated in this quasi-experimental pre-post pilot study. All received the intervention which comprised twelve 5-minute modules to complete over a 3-week period. Baseline and post-intervention data were collected. The primary outcome evaluated participants' confidence to respond to trainees experiencing mental ill-health and promote a mentally healthy workplace. Secondary outcomes evaluated change in self-reported behaviour, mental health knowledge and stigmatising attitudes. Differences in mean scale scores for each outcome measure from baseline and post-intervention were compared using paired sample t-tests. RESULTS: Thirty physicians completed the baseline assessment, and 23 (76.7%) completed all program modules. Most participants found the program engaging, interesting and useful. Post-intervention data, available for 25 (83.3%) participants, showed a significant increase in participants' knowledge of their role in supporting trainees under their supervision (p=0.002), confidence to initiate conversations about mental health with staff (p<0.001), and application of preventive and responsive supervisory behaviours to support the mental health needs of those they supervise (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This online mental health training program for physician supervisors was feasible and associated with improved confidence and behaviour to support the mental health needs of trainees they supervised. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Entities:
Keywords:
Mental health education; Online intervention; Physician; Supervisor training; Workplace mental health
Authors: Katherine Petrie; Mark Deady; Deborah Lupton; Joanna Crawford; Katherine M Boydell; Samuel B Harvey Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2021-12-14 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Katherine Petrie; Kelly Stanton; Aneesha Gill; Jennifer Simmons; Samuel B Harvey Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2022-04-06 Impact factor: 3.630