Sanchez Luis T, Candilis Philip J, Arnstein Fredrick, Eaton Judith, Barnes Blood Diana, Chinman Gary A, Bresnahan Linda R
SANCHEZ: Director Emeritus, Physician Health Services (PHS) Inc., Waltham, MA CANDILIS: Department of Behavioral Health, Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Washington, DC (formerly Assessment/Associate Director, PHS) ARNSTEIN: Principal, Survey Action Associates, Newton, MA EATON: Associate Director Emerita, Physician Health Services Inc., Waltham, MA BARNES BLOOD: Physician Support Group Facilitator CHINMAN: Associate Director, Physician Health Services Inc., Waltham, MA BRESNAHAN: Director of Operations, Physician Health Services Inc., Waltham, MA.
J Psychiatr Pract. 2016 Jan;22(1):56-63. doi: 10.1097/PRA.0000000000000121.
State Physician Health Programs (PHPs) assess, support, and monitor physicians with mental, behavioral, medical, and substance abuse problems. Since their formation in the 1970s, PHPs have offered support groups following the 12-step model for recovery from substance use disorders (SUDs). However, few programs have developed support groups for physicians without SUDs. This study at the Massachusetts PHP (Physician Health Services Inc.) represents the first effort to survey physician attitudes concerning a unique support group that goes beyond classic addiction models. The group was initiated because of the observation that physicians with problems other than SUDs did not fit easily into the 12-step framework. It was hypothesized that such a group would be effective in helping participants control workplace stress, improve professional and personal relationships, and manage medical and psychiatric difficulties. With a response rate of 43% (85 respondents), the survey identified a strong overall impact of the Physician Health Services Inc. support group, identifying positive effects in all areas of personal and professional life: family and friends, wellness, professional relationships, and career. Respondents identified the role of the facilitator as particularly important, underscoring the facilitator's capacity to welcome participants, manage interactions, set limits, and maintain a supportive emotional tone. The implications for physician health extend from supporting a broader application of this model to using a skilled facilitator to manage groups intended to reduce the stress and burnout of present-day medical practice. The results encourage PHPs, hospitals, medical practices, and physician groups to consider implementing facilitated support groups as an additional tool for maintaining physician health.
州医师健康项目（PHPs）对有心理、行为、医学及药物滥用问题的医师进行评估、支持和监测。自20世纪70年代成立以来，PHPs按照针对药物使用障碍（SUDs）康复的12步模式提供支持小组。然而，很少有项目为没有药物使用障碍的医师设立支持小组。这项在马萨诸塞州医师健康项目（医师健康服务公司）开展的研究，是首次针对医师对一个超越传统成瘾模式的独特支持小组的态度进行调查。设立该小组是因为观察到患有除药物使用障碍之外其他问题的医师不容易融入12步框架。据推测，这样一个小组将有效地帮助参与者控制工作场所压力、改善职业和个人关系以及应对医学和精神方面的困难。调查的回复率为43%（85名受访者），该调查确定了医师健康服务公司支持小组产生了强大的总体影响，在个人和职业生活的所有领域都发现了积极影响：家庭和朋友、健康、职业关系和职业。受访者认为主持人的角色尤为重要，强调了主持人欢迎参与者、管理互动、设定界限以及保持支持性情感氛围的能力。对医师健康的影响包括支持更广泛地应用该模式，以及使用熟练的主持人来管理旨在减轻当今医疗实践压力和倦怠的小组。这些结果鼓励PHPs、医院、医疗实践机构和医师团体考虑实施有主持人引导的支持小组，作为维护医师健康的一种额外工具。
