Lifelong learning practices and leisure-time exercise habits of academic and community-based physicians

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Objective: Physicians are required to be lifelong learners for the provision of quality patient care. At the same time, physician wellbeing is a critical component in the delivery of such care. This study was designed to examine: (1) lifelong learning practices and leisure-time exercise habits of academic and community-based physicians; and (2) associations of leisure-time exercise with work engagement, exhaustion, and professional life satisfaction. Methods: Using an online survey, quantitative data were collected from physicians practicing in Canada. The survey contained validated scales of physician lifelong learning, leisure-time exercise, work engagement, work exhaustion, and professional life satisfaction. Descriptive, chi-square, t-test, and correlational analyses were performed. Results: Physicians (n=57) reported moderately high levels of lifelong learning, with no significant difference between academic and community-based physicians. To stay current in their practice, the majority of physicians reported exchanging ideas/asking colleagues and searching databases as questions arise (>90%), followed by engaging in clinical teaching and attending conferences and meetings of professional organizations (>80%). Watching podcasts and webinars was the least preferred lifelong learning activity (<50%). With respect to leisure-time exercise habits, more community-based physicians reported engaging in mild and/or moderate forms of exercising, whereas more academic physicians reported engaging in strenuous exercising in a typical week. Correlational analyses revealed that physicians' leisure-time exercise scores were positively correlated with professional life satisfaction (r = 0.25; p = 0.058) and work engagement (r = 0.29; p = 0.028) and negatively correlated with work exhaustion (r = -0.34; p = 0.01). Conclusions: Irrespective of the practice type, physicians tend to engage in lifelong learning activities that offer in-person interactions with colleagues and trainees. Regular participation in leisure-time exercise appears to enhance physicians' professional wellbeing. As such, these activities and habits should be encouraged, supported, and promoted within institutional culture and health systems in general.