How Health Practitioners Learners Differ from Other Learners in Recovery College Courses: An Outcomes Study

Health practitioners often work in high-pressure environments with time constraints, organizational demands, and emotional stressors, leading to burnout, psychological distress, and non-recovery-oriented practices. Recovery Colleges (RCs) are learning centers that promote recovery-oriented practices and wellbeing among diverse learners, including health practitioners. However, little quantitative research has examined outcomes for health practitioners in RCs. This study compares outcomes of health practitioner learners with other learner types in an RC course.

A preexperimental, one-group pretest-posttest design with repeated measures was used. A total of 434 learners completed questionnaires assessing wellbeing, anxiety, resilience, and stigma at three time points. Sociodemographic data were also collected.

Health practitioners are more likely to hold a master's degree, work full-time, and possess a higher proportion of clinical and theoretical knowledge. Linear mixed models revealed significant effects of time on wellbeing (P < 0.001), anxiety (P < 0.001), resilience (P = 0.011), and stigma (Disclosure/Help-seeking: P < 0.001). Differences were found by learner type for wellbeing (P = 0.004), anxiety (P < 0.001), resilience (P = 0.015), and stigma (Attitudes: P < 0.001; Social Distance: P = 0.032). Health practitioner reported higher wellbeing and resilience, and lower anxiety and stigma scores (Attitudes and Social Distance) than other learners. No significant interaction was found between time and learner types.

Despite baseline differences and varying sociodemographic profiles, health practitioner learner outcomes are comparable with those of other learners. RC courses support mental health and recovery-oriented practices that address stigma and complement other continuing professional development activities.