Coaching Pediatricians for Wellbeing: A Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study

• Published in: Academic pediatrics
• Main Authors: Kennedy, Suzanne, Carmack, Suzie, Li, Lang, Lin, Feng-Chang, Hatch, Joseph E, Chan, Kathrine, Tolleson-Rinehart, Sue, Noah, Terry L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Faculty; Wellbeing; Burnout; Coaching; Pediatrician
• ISSN: 1876-2859; 1876-2867; 1876-2867
• DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2024.09.010

Organization-sponsored interventions have the potential to promote, and destigmatize seeking help for, wellbeing. Our study objective was to explore the acceptability and feasibility of a coaching intervention to improve wellbeing among faculty. We conducted a pilot, pre/post design, study in a convenience sample of pediatric faculty at an academic medical center. Participants were offered <6 live virtual coaching sessions at the participant's discretion. In addition, a novel wellbeing individual development plan (WB-IDP) was distributed to participants. Primary outcomes were feasibility of the intervention, defined as completing >1 coaching session and acceptability measured by anonymous feedback and use of the WB-IDP. Secondary outcomes were wellbeing (WHO Wellbeing Index (WHO-5)), stress (Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)), and work engagement (Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES)), at baseline, 3, and 6 months. All enrollees (N=28) completed at least one, 18/28 (64%) completed at least 4, and 9/28 (32%) completed 6 coaching sessions. Of 28 participants, 11 (39%) started a WB-IDP and 5/28 (18%) completed and implemented the plan. The aggregate WHO-5 score showed a statistically significant change from baseline (53.3) to month 6 (64.3) (P <.01). Fourteen 14/27 (52%) participants had an improvement of ≥10 points in WHO-5 score between baseline and month 6. No other significant changes were observed. Individualized certified coaching for wellbeing was successfully implemented and associated with a significant increase in wellbeing. We speculate that wellbeing coaching can be promoted by faculty development programs in university and healthcare settings and has potential to improve organizational outcomes.