An Interprofessional Group Intervention to Promote Faculty Well-Being: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Management
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Healthcare faculty often experience high rates of burnout and disengagement.
• Interventions to improve faculty well-being and professional connection are crucial for academic medical centers.
• Previous strategies to combat burnout have varied in effectiveness and cost.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of self-facilitated interprofessional faculty groups on burnout and engagement.
• To determine if a written discussion guide is essential for the success of such interventions.
• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of this faculty well-being initiative.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 25 clinical faculty members (physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives).
• Participants engaged in three monthly self-facilitated dinner meetings over three months.
• Groups were randomized to either use a discussion guide or not, with outcomes measured using validated metrics for burnout, engagement, and stress.

Main Results:

• Overall burnout decreased significantly from 56% to 41% (P = .002), with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization also declining.
• Faculty engagement increased from 80% to 96% (P = .03).
• No significant differences in outcomes were observed between groups with and without a discussion guide; cost was under $100 per participant.

Conclusions:

• Self-facilitated interprofessional faculty meetings are a cost-effective method to reduce burnout and enhance engagement.
• These meetings foster a sense of connection and commitment to well-being without requiring structured discussion guides.
• This approach offers a scalable model for improving faculty well-being and transforming institutional culture.