ACOEP WELLNESS COMMITTEE
WELLNESS COMMITTEE UPDATE
Tiffany Brown, DO Chair
PHYSICIAN WELLNESS SURVEY RESULTS
The Physicians Wellness Committee recently sent out a survey to gauge the needs of our great organization. We had 148 survey participants from the college and will use this information to help us address the high level of both physician fatigue and lack of focus on provider wellness. We will do this by offering education, resources, options, and interventions to help providers thrive during their careers. As a committee, we want to create opportunities for wellness and health. Achieving wellness is a multifaceted journey that involves various strategies and practices. Some key actions people often take to attain wellness include regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and paying attention to nutritional value, getting adequate sleep, stress management practices, building social connections, focusing on mental health care, steps toward better self-care, participating in preventative healthcare, maintaining a healthy work life balance, working toward a positive mindset, limiting harmful habits, engaging in continuous learning, increasing environmental awareness. In our survey we asked, “What do you specifically do to achieve wellness?” Participants answered that they exercise (32%), go on vacations (28%), and partake in hobbies (22%). We all know that engaging in physical activity is essential for maintaining good
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health. Taking time for self-care activities like hobbies or relaxation can help maintain emotional balance. 12% of participants answered “other” and their answers were a combination of the top 3 survey answers. Seeking professional help when dealing with mental health challenges is vital. Therapy, counseling, or support groups can be beneficial. Practicing stress reduction techniques like meditation, deep breathing and mindfulness can help manage daily pressures and promote mental wellness.
We asked, “What are the elements of wellness that you desire?” There were 3 elements that accounted for over 75% of the responses. These elements were “Decreased workload” at 29%, “Control Over Schedule” at 26%, and “Time with Family” at 21%. I believe that if we start by centering our attention on these 3 elements, this will contribute the most to improving health and wellness among our members.
Decreased Workload Research suggests that reducing work hours can decrease employee stress and improve well-being without impacting productivity. the benefits that organizations and individuals can experience by implementing workload reduction strategies are improved employee well-being, increased productivity, enhanced job satisfaction, maximized employee retention, improved work life balance, and prevention of burnout. Control Over Schedule Having control over your schedule can significantly improve wellness. Research indicates that having little discretion over how work gets done is associated not only with poorer mental health but also with higher rates of heart disease. Conversely, giving workers more choice or control over their work schedules has been found to improve their mental health. Even relatively small changes in worker autonomy can make a difference in employee well-being.
