// PERSPECTIVES
Sage Advice from a Seasoned Clinician
Roadmap for Recharging in 2022 By Carol A. Burke, MD, FACG, Past ACG President
THERE IS NO NEED TO RECOUNT the significant and myriad ways the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives and sensibilities. Who would have imagined two years ago that, in 2022, our day-to-day activities would continue to be fraught with the uncertainty, vagaries and vulnerability related to the pandemic? The chronic and sustained pandemic-associated stress, due in part to requisite social distancing, self-isolation, long work hours often requiring N95 respirators, redeployment, health risk and worry, have led to physician fatigue, feelings of futility, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, sleep disturbances, maladaptive behaviors, and emotional exhaustion (EE), particularly in health care workers (HCW). A study in Australia uncovered 26% of frontline HCWs increased their alcohol consumption as a
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coping strategy, which was associated with worsened mental health symptoms. Suicidal ideation has risen in HCWs with a study from the United Kingdom reporting that 13% of intensive care unit HCWs experienced thoughts of self-harm. A systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed 50% of HCWs during the pandemic met the criteria for burnout as measured by EE, a key measure of burnout. Faced with these sobering facts, what can be done to mitigate burnout? One large study demonstrated that surgeons who utilized the following wellness strategies were less likely to experience burnout: finding meaning in their work; maintaining a positive outlook; engaging in recreation such as vacation, exercise, and hobbies; spending time with family; creating work-life balance; and focusing on the meaning of life. Other data identified gratitude as a positive coping disposition, which significantly predicted lower psychological stress among nurses and
acted independently to protect against stress among emergency service personnel. Gratitude is related to optimism, and optimism to well-being. Additionally, grateful people more often sought social support, utilized approaching rather than avoidant coping strategies, and may be more resilient following traumatic events. One study suggests that gratitude helped nurses cope with stress and protected against COVID-19-specific trauma by decreasing depressive symptoms and self-criticism while enhancing self-reassurance.
Four Steps on the Road to Health and Wellness Here are 4 steps that can help maintain you on the road to health and wellness. 1. Follow the CDC guidelines for physical activity: >150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or >75 minutes of vigorous activity,