Schwartz Rounds for Staff in an Australian Tertiary Hospital: Protocol for a Pilot Uncontrolled Trial

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology
• Medical Education

Background:

• Schwartz Rounds are an interdisciplinary intervention to improve staff well-being and compassionate care in healthcare.
• They offer a safe space for healthcare staff to discuss the emotional aspects of patient care.
• While implemented globally, their evaluation in Australian healthcare settings is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and impact of Schwartz Rounds in an Australian tertiary metropolitan hospital.
• To assess the effect on staff well-being, compassionate care, and organizational culture.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods pilot study involving 24 participants from intensive care and gastroenterology departments.
• Three unit-based Schwartz Rounds sessions were conducted.
• Data collected via surveys (Maslach Burnout Inventory, Compassionate Care Scale, Culture of Care Barometer) at baseline, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up.
• Qualitative data gathered through focus groups and open-ended survey questions.

Main Results:

• Study ethics approval obtained and recruitment initiated in July 2021, with completion anticipated by May 2022.
• Quantitative and qualitative data analysis planned to assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy.

Conclusions:

• The study will provide insights into the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of Schwartz Rounds in Australia.
• Findings will inform the potential broader implementation of this intervention in Australian hospitals.
• This research is particularly relevant given the ongoing challenges faced by healthcare staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.