Addressing Healthcare Provider Well-being in a Conflict Zone: A Mixed-Method Study of Vital Anesthesia Simulation...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Global Health
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Healthcare provider burnout negatively impacts performance and patient care.
• Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training (VAST) Wellbeing is designed to mitigate burnout in low-resource settings.
• The VAST Wellbeing course's efficacy in conflict zones remains unevaluated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the influence of the VAST Wellbeing course on healthcare workers in a conflict zone.
• To explore participant experiences, benefits, and challenges of the VAST Wellbeing training in Sudan.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods study utilizing in-depth qualitative interviews.
• Quantitative assessment of perceived social stigma and attitudes toward help-seeking.
• Inclusion of the Stigma Scale for Receiving Psychological Help and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Stigma regarding mental health support decreased significantly post-course (P=.005).
• Willingness to seek mental health help significantly increased post-course (P>.001).
• Qualitative analysis revealed themes of conflict impact, reduced social stigma, strengthened community, and adoption of well-being practices.

Conclusions:

• VAST Wellbeing training proved pertinent and impactful in a conflict zone setting.
• The course fostered community, reduced mental health stigma, and increased help-seeking acceptability.
• Participants adopted self-care strategies, highlighting the training's relevance despite challenges.