Peer support: A needs assessment for social support from trained peers in response to stress among medical physicists

Abstract

Purpose Previous studies suggest that within radiation oncology, medical physicists (MP) experience high workloads. Little is known about how MPs use social support (SS) in times of stress. Methods In collaboration with the Workgroup on Prevention of Medical Error, the American Association of Physicists in Medicine administered this Human Investigation Committee (HIC) approved email survey to 8566 members. Respondents were considered likely to seek SS if they answered (probably/definitely would) and unlikely to seek support if they answered (probably/definitely would not). Logistic regression was applied to determine associations between demographic factors and willingness to seek support as well as perception of barriers. Results One thousand two hundred and ninety‐seven members (15.1%) accessed and gave consent for the survey. One thousand and one (11.7%) respondents answered all relevant questions. Respondents were predominantly male (69.1%), MP in radiation oncology (81.8%), private practice (51.6%), with practice duration> 10 yr (60.2%). MPs were likely to seek SS for personal physical illness (78.63%), involvement in a medical error (73.94%) or adverse patient outcome (75.17%). MPs sought SS in the setting of personal fatigue (33.2%) or burnout (44.3%). Barriers to seeking SS were lack of time (80.3%), and uncertainty about whom to access (70.7%). MPs responded that they would be most likely to seek support from an equally experienced medical physicist colleague (81.0%). Most MPs (67.0%) identified as having experienced stressors, with serious family illness (35.2%), or burnout (32.8%) being most common. Factors associated with MPs unwillingness to seek SS for medical error included> 20 yr in practice (vs still in training — OR 0.30, P = 0.015), and male gender (OR 0.60, P = 0.003). Male gender was associated with the lowest willingness to seek support (OR 2.10, P = 0.0001), but also with fewer perceived barriers (OR 1.60, P = 0.0075). Conclusion Willingness to seek SS is demonstrated, and MPs want colleagues to provide support. Given these results, peer support could be considered among MPs.

Gender Differences in Work–Life Integration Among Medical Physicists

“…Understanding the challenges faced by medical physicists is essential given the substantial levels of burnout among this population. In a recent study of medical physicists, 33% of respondents reported experiencing burnout, 8 which is similar to the 42% burnout rate among oncology physicians. 9 Mazur et al found that medical physicists reported quantitatively high workloads and mental demand levels in comparison with other radiation oncology professionals.…”

“…10 Medical physicists also express an uncertainty in how or even if to seek out and receive wellness-related support. 8 Left unaddressed, burnout in this group of health care professionals may lead to similar consequences as for physicians, including a potential effect on the quality of patient care. 9,11,12 Little published information exists to inform interventions to reduce burnout for physicists or whether existing interventions translated from other areas of health care may be successful.…”

Telecommuting: A viable option for medical physicists amid the COVID‐19 outbreak and beyond

“…Preliminary data from my own institution suggests that physics chart reviews are completed faster while working from home. Given the concerning data that >40% of medical physicists experience burnout, increasing work‐life balance through flexible work options is a novel solution, which also could improve patient safety with less burnout of healthcare workers 12 . Through these days of the COVID‐19 pandemic, we will gain necessary experience to evaluate productivity and effectiveness of telecommuting medical physicists.…”

Peer support by interprofessional health care providers in aftermath of patient safety incidents: A cross‐sectional study

“…Health care professionals in general report several coping mechanisms to alleviate such symptoms. An important coping mechanism includes social support from colleagues, family, hospital management and friends, albeit that such interactions are felt to be meaningful to some extent (Johnson et al., 2019; Kable et al., 2018; Baas et al., 2018; Seys et al., 2013a; Seys, Wu, et al., 2013).…”

“…Although some peer support systems are described in recent literature, it remains unclear (Scott, 2010; Seys, Scott, et al., 2013) what type of support is best offered to health care providers in the aftermath of a PSI and who can provide such support (Johnson et al., 2019). The aim of this study therefore was to investigate health care professional's (nurses and doctors) preferences pertaining to support in the aftermath of a PSI and potential variation depending on the level of patient harm.…”