Check-In: An Educational Activity to Address Well-Being and Burnout among Pharmacy Students

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Occupational Health
• Mental Well-being

Background:

• Chronic workplace stress can lead to burnout, particularly in healthcare professionals.
• Pharmacists are susceptible to burnout, necessitating proactive interventions.
• The University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy developed an initiative to address this issue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate an active-learning activity, "Check-In," designed to teach and foster reflection on healthcare provider burnout.
• To assess the impact of the "Check-In" activity on student and faculty well-being.

Main Methods:

• The "Check-In" activity included a 20-minute online lecture on burnout, pre-readings on physician burnout, and optional one-on-one sessions.
• A reflection guide prompted students to rate mental health and reflect on energy, self-care, and self-compassion.
• The activity involved students and faculty/staff facilitators.

Main Results:

• The "Check-In" activity was perceived as rewarding and positive by both students and faculty.
• Key success factors included personal connections within the school and strategic curriculum timing.
• A primary criticism was the short duration of the one-on-one sessions.

Conclusions:

• The "Check-In" activity effectively engaged students and faculty in reflecting on burnout.
• The initiative demonstrated potential for improving student well-being in pharmacy programs.
• Further research is planned to evaluate the long-term effects of the program.