A Scoping Review of Physical Activity Interventions for Physician Wellness

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Public Health
• Physician Wellness

Background:

• Physicians experience high rates of burnout, stress, and poor job satisfaction.
• Physician well-being is crucial for effective patient care and the healthcare system.
• Understanding effective interventions is vital to combat physician burnout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on physician burnout and well-being.
• To identify gaps in current research regarding exercise and physician wellness.
• To synthesize evidence on the impact of physical activity on physicians' mental and professional health.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature searches were conducted in March 2022 across PubMed, PsycINFO, and EMBASE.
• 2,496 records were identified, and 1,287 were screened for relevance.
• 12 papers were finalized for inclusion in this review.

Main Results:

• Physical activity and exercise interventions demonstrate overall positive benefits for physicians.
• Despite evidence of exercise's importance, physicians report insufficient physical activity.
• Physicians are underrepresented in studies investigating exercise interventions for wellness.

Conclusions:

• Exercise interventions can positively impact physician well-being and combat burnout.
• Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to augment physician wellness programs.
• Integrating exercise into physicians' lives is essential for their health and patient care.