P26
THRIVING IN BST: INTRODUCTION OF AN NCHD NEAR-PEER WELLBEING COURSE FOR BASIC SPECIALIST TRAINEES IN RCPI
P. Carr, S. Casey, E. Porter
Workplace Health & Wellbeing Unit, HSE, Dublin, Ireland
Background
A 2017 RCPI study on doctor wellbeing in Ireland identified a number of areas of concern and showed a 38.4% prevalence of burnout amongst Basic Specialist Training (BST) trainees. A key recommendation was that training bodies develop educational supports to counteract wellbeing deficits (1). With this in mind, Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors (NCHDs) from the RCPI Health & Wellbeing Committee decided to create a course to support BST trainees.
Methods
The primary aim of the initiative was to provide BST trainees with supports and resources to manage their wellbeing. Secondary aims were to provide senior NCHDs with training and educational opportunities, and to improve their overall wellbeing acumen through course facilitation. Course content was created by NCHDs and delivered by senior NCHDs to include their lived experience and ensure relevance to BST trainees. A business case was submitted to the RCPI for the course in 2021.
Results
6 pilot courses were run in 2021, and led to the inclusion of this course as a mandatory BST course from 2022, translating to delivery to over 600 trainees over 2 years. 100 trainees provided course feedback in 22/23. 90% agreed/strongly agreed to all survey prompts: the teaching faculty contributed to their learning, they were satisfied with the programme facilities, and resources provided were appropriate, adequate, and deepened learning.
Implications for policy or practice
Near-peer initiatives to improve doctor wellbeing are positively received by doctors and a novel way to deliver early support to a cohort which can present with presenteeism (2).
References:
- Hayes B., Walsh G., Prihodova L., 2017, NATIONAL STUDY OF WELLBEING OF HOSPITAL DOCTORS IN IRELAND, RCPI, Dublin
- Pei P, Lin G, Li G, Zhu Y, Xi X. The association between doctors’ presenteeism and job burnout: a cross-sectional survey study in China. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020;20(1):715.
