Measuring Self-Reported Well-Being of Physicians Using the Well-Being Thermometer: Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Medical Education
• Psychology

Background:

• Healthcare professionals (HCPs) face significant mental and physical health challenges, impacting patient care quality.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified stress, depression, and burnout among HCPs.
• Existing medical advancements often prioritize patient care over the well-being of healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel tool for measuring the well-being of healthcare professionals in clinical settings.
• To enhance "well-being intelligence" among HCPs, promoting self-awareness and self-management.
• To provide insights for healthcare organizations to improve staff support policies.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional pilot study involving 148 physicians in the United Kingdom.
• Utilized a newly developed "well-being thermometer" tool.
• The tool assesses five domains: health, thoughts, emotions, spiritual, and social well-being.

Main Results:

• The well-being thermometer demonstrated good internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.84 for the total scale.
• The study confirmed the tool's utility in gathering data on staff well-being.
• Pilot results indicate the thermometer can effectively measure self-reported well-being.

Conclusions:

• The well-being thermometer is a promising tool for assessing and understanding healthcare professional well-being.
• It empowers HCPs to recognize and manage their well-being needs.
• The tool can guide healthcare organizations in developing supportive policies and practices.