Increasing Physician Self- Awareness: A Transdisciplinary Approach in a Chronic Pain Practice
Linda Golding, MA, BCC (Board Certified Chaplain), Staff Chaplain; Coordinator of Pastoral Services, Milstein Hospital, New York - Presbyterian Hospital
Nomita Sonty, PhD., Departments of Anesthesiology & Psychiatry, Columbia University
Physicians experience a high degree of stress during their interactions with patients and can easily lose the enchantment of their chosen profession. Heavy workloads, challenged work-life integration, loss of control, and most importantly the loss of meaning can lead to burnout and worse. Chronic pain patients can be particularly challenging due to the subjective nature of their pain, its psychological impact and treatment compliance challenges. The recent shift away from the prescription of opioids for chronic pain and an increased emphasis on patient satisfaction has led to additional stressors on physicians attempting to balance these two. Increased distress and inadequate self awareness can result in lower frustration tolerance and burnout.
Self-awareness is defined as “the capacity for introspection and the ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals.” Preliminary research has demonstrated that focus groups on self-awareness, mindfulness, and stress management can lead to improved clinical care, physician work satisfaction, and patient relationships. In a time when recent reports have found that physicians have higher rates of burnout than any other workers in the US, it is particularly important to be cognizant of physician well-being.
The Pain Fellows at Columbia University Medical Center have been involved in a trans-disciplinary group since 2015 with the aim of increasing their self-awareness thorough introspection. Monthly sessions are structured under the guidance of a faculty psychologist and a hospital-based chaplain and address topics such as an individual’s transitional identity, scaffolding and maintaining composure, physician need for compassion, touch (physical and emotional meaning), inspiring patients, boundaries/self-disclosure and mindfulness. Different methods including videos, presentations, questionnaires, and art-making were used to encourage introspection and discussion related to each topic. The fellows were asked to incorporate these learned practices into their patient interactions and reflect on how it may have altered their ability to empathize, communicate, and manage difficult scenarios. Near the end of each academic year, the fellows are asked to complete a survey to assess how these sessions impacted their self-awareness.
The workshop will outline the methodology and results of the groups and will include interactive role plays to increase the learning experience for a clinical and academic audience. Dr. Sonty and Chaplain Golding have been working together since 2010, developing and leading groups with chronic pain patients and with Pain Fellows to explore the continuum between the psychological, emotional, spiritual and physical realms of human experience. We have presented our work during Grand Rounds and University Academic evenings.
Nomita Sonty, PhD., Departments of Anesthesiology & Psychiatry, Columbia University
Physicians experience a high degree of stress during their interactions with patients and can easily lose the enchantment of their chosen profession. Heavy workloads, challenged work-life integration, loss of control, and most importantly the loss of meaning can lead to burnout and worse. Chronic pain patients can be particularly challenging due to the subjective nature of their pain, its psychological impact and treatment compliance challenges. The recent shift away from the prescription of opioids for chronic pain and an increased emphasis on patient satisfaction has led to additional stressors on physicians attempting to balance these two. Increased distress and inadequate self awareness can result in lower frustration tolerance and burnout.
Self-awareness is defined as “the capacity for introspection and the ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals.” Preliminary research has demonstrated that focus groups on self-awareness, mindfulness, and stress management can lead to improved clinical care, physician work satisfaction, and patient relationships. In a time when recent reports have found that physicians have higher rates of burnout than any other workers in the US, it is particularly important to be cognizant of physician well-being.
The Pain Fellows at Columbia University Medical Center have been involved in a trans-disciplinary group since 2015 with the aim of increasing their self-awareness thorough introspection. Monthly sessions are structured under the guidance of a faculty psychologist and a hospital-based chaplain and address topics such as an individual’s transitional identity, scaffolding and maintaining composure, physician need for compassion, touch (physical and emotional meaning), inspiring patients, boundaries/self-disclosure and mindfulness. Different methods including videos, presentations, questionnaires, and art-making were used to encourage introspection and discussion related to each topic. The fellows were asked to incorporate these learned practices into their patient interactions and reflect on how it may have altered their ability to empathize, communicate, and manage difficult scenarios. Near the end of each academic year, the fellows are asked to complete a survey to assess how these sessions impacted their self-awareness.
The workshop will outline the methodology and results of the groups and will include interactive role plays to increase the learning experience for a clinical and academic audience. Dr. Sonty and Chaplain Golding have been working together since 2010, developing and leading groups with chronic pain patients and with Pain Fellows to explore the continuum between the psychological, emotional, spiritual and physical realms of human experience. We have presented our work during Grand Rounds and University Academic evenings.