The impact of Balint work on alexithymia, perceived stress, perceived social support and burnout among physicians working in palliative care: a longitudinal study
Journal Title: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health - Year 2019, Vol 32, Issue 1
Abstract
Objectives: Physicians working with palliative patients have a substantial risk of emotional exhaustion because of their daily confrontation with suffering and death. Common concerns include alexithymia, high stress, low perceived social support and a greater burnout risk. This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Balint training in preventing the development of these symptoms in these medical professionals. Material and Methods: The design of the study was longitudinal. A group of 69 physicians working with palliative patients from 5 county hospitals in Romania (33 men, 36 women) participated in the study. Out of them, 31 joined and systematically attended a local Balint group whereas the others did not participate in such a group, either during the study or previously. They were given, both at the beginning (2015) and at the end of the study (2017), 4 psychometric instruments assessing alexithymia (Bagby’s Toronto Alexithymia Scale), perceived stress (Cohen and Williamson’s Perceived Stress Scale), social support (Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire) and burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory). A split-plot ANOVA analysis was used for evaluating the significance of Balint groups participation, with gender and age considered as auxiliary variables. Results: In the study group, Balint training significantly improved the scores of global burnout (F(1, 64) = 25.104, p < 0.0001), 2 of its components (emotional exhaustion (F(1, 64) = 18.390, p < 0.0001) and depersonalization (F(1, 64) = 10.957, p < 0.002), alexithymia (F(1, 64) = 3.461, p < 0.0001) and perceived social support (F(1, 64) = 57.883, p < 0.0001), but not the scores of perceived stress and low personal accomplishment. Gender had an additional contribution in decreasing alexithymia (F(1, 64) = 7.436, p < 0.009) and increasing perceived social support (F(1, 64) = 15.426, p < 0.0001), with higher effects in men. Conclusions: This study points to the potential usefulness of Balint training in addressing alexithymia and burnout, and in improving perceived social support among physicians working with palliative patients. As the Balint method is easily understood and does not require special investments, it could represent a cost-effective instrument of addressing job-related psychological risks. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(1):53–63
Authors and Affiliations
Ovidiu Popa-Velea, Carmen-Ioana Trutescu, Liliana Veronica Diaconescu
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP468899
- DOI 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01302
- Views 60
- Downloads 0
IL-18 LEVELS IN NASAL LAVAGE AFTER INHALATORY CHALLENGE TEST WITH FLOUR IN BAKERS DIAGNOSED WITH OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA
[b]Objectives: [/b]The authors discuss the outcomes of a study on IL-18 concentration in nasal washings after the inhalatory challenge test with fl our allergens (ICHT-F) in bakers with fl our-induced occupational airway...
Spatial and temporal variability of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cases in Silesian Voivodeship in years 2006–2010
Objectives: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (J84.1 by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision – ICD-10) is a rare disease of unknown cause. Among many risk...
PSYCHOLOGICAL MODELS OF FEMALE TEACHERS’ FUNCTIONING IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL ROLE
[b]Objectives:[/b] The research was aimed at searching for diversified models of female teachers' functioning that could be determined by their individual traits, psychological variables, and professional adaptation fact...
Shift schedule, work–family relationships, marital communication, job satisfaction and health among transport service shift workers
Objectives: Existing research has documented that shiftwork consequences may depend on the shift system parameters. Fast rotating systems (1–3 shifts of the same kind in a row) and day work have been found to be less dis...
Letter to the Editor (August 24, 2017) concerning the paper “Occupational exposure to radon for underground tourist routes in Poland: Doses to lung and the risk of developing lung cancer”
Refers to: Walczak K, Olszewski J, Politański P, Zmyślony M. Occupational exposure to radon for underground tourist routes in Poland: Doses to lung and the risk of developing lung cancer. Int J Occup Med Environ Health....