Physician Path to Wellness. A Qualitative Investigation of Self-Reported Strategies to Shift from Detrimental Health to Optimal Wellness

Background: A healthy physician performs better clinically and provides superior care to patients than a struggling with burnout. Objective: The purpose of this study is assess the perception “health” “burnout,” identify successful wellness-promoting behaviors, build model characterizing transition from poor health wellness. Methods: Utilizing qualitative approach, team conducted one-on-one, in-depth, semi-structured interviews physicians different specialties. Questions focused on beliefs, system changes that facilitated their health/burnout Interviews were recorded responses qualitatively coded set definitions wellness These quantified, code prevalence was analyzed. Results: Fourteen completed interviews. codebook consisted 74 total themes, nine occurring in more 10 (71%) Most themes yielded categories Wellness, Unwell, Burnout, several related individual agency facilitating Highly prevalent included support systems, nutrition, exercise, cognitive health. Subjects generally described comprehensive approaches successfully transitioning Conclusion: This describes strategies for wellness: physician-level factors such as system, maintaining lifestyle, developing consistent daily routines. findings importance autonomy individual-level physician’s More research should investigate overall effect versus system-level interventions.