Peer Support Programs for Physicians and Health Care Providers: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Professional Well-being
• Psychological Support Systems

Background:

• Challenging clinical encounters cause significant emotional distress in physicians.
• Physicians prefer peer discussions over other support methods.
• This review identifies critical components of one-on-one peer support programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify critical components of one-on-one peer support programs.
• To describe logistical considerations for program implementation.
• To outline methods for evaluating peer support programs.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search for one-on-one peer support interventions for healthcare providers.
• Review and charting of studies based on inclusion criteria.
• Analysis of critical components, logistics, and evaluation methods.

Main Results:

• 25 studies included from 1,028 citations; most programs targeted physicians and healthcare providers.
• Key principles: confidentiality, informality, voluntary participation, and empathetic listening.
• Common components included escalation processes; peer supporters were nominated/appointed, not self-nominated.

Conclusions:

• Physicians and healthcare providers can lead change by developing peer support initiatives.
• The review provides tools and strategies for implementing effective peer support.
• Peer support programs are crucial for addressing emotional distress in healthcare settings.