Can Physician Self-care Enhance Patient-centered Healthcare? Qualitative Findings from a Physician Wellbeing Coaching Program

Introduction: While physicians promote the health and well-being of their patients, they often carry a burden of responsibility that is detrimental to their own health and well-being. Physician burnout and compromised patient care are well-known results. Yet, few interventions focused on physician well-being have been reported. Objective: This article reports on findings from qualitative interviews with participants of a pilot Physician Well-being Coaching program at Duke University. It draws from perspectives of participants and coaches to explore how Physician Well-being Coaching this coaching approach may influence physician self-care and by extension, affect patient care. Methods: Twenty-five physicians in four medical departments completed between three and eight individual coaching sessions. Eleven physicians and three coaches participated in a qualitative interview focused on three main areas: life context, impacts of coaching and coaching process. We conducted qualitative content analysis of interviews to elicit patterns and themes within these three interview areas. Results: This study suggests that physician well-being coaching can help raise participant self-awareness, increase the value placed on self-care and allow for new perspectives and approaches for increasing well-being. Physicians reported that coaching positively influenced the way they related to their patients and brought about greater compassion and empathy. Discussion: Medical institutions have long promoted a culture of selfsacrifice and self-denial that has undermined physician wellness. Interventions that recognize the value of self-care are needed along with more robust mentorship structures, integrated and accessible stress-management programs and accelerated efforts to reduce the stigma for seeking help.