Abstract
Empathy and stress management have been shown to be essential skills for healthcare providers. Research also indicates a decline in empathy levels among healthcare students during clinical rotations. Balint groups were originally developed to provide regular, facilitated meetings among physicians to process difficult feelings in the therapeutic relationship. Could Balint groups be used among physician assistant students during clinical rotations to mitigate against a decline in empathy? In 2019, Balint groups were introduced to a group of physician assistant students during their clinical rotations. Three times during rotations, students met in person in small groups for an hour, facilitated by the Director of Clinical Education and another trained staff person. Students were asked to present a case that left them unsettled or kept them up at night and to focus on interpersonal dynamics. As trust developed among group members, discussion followed about issues of end of life, conflict, family systems, addiction, diversity, or abuse. Student satisfaction surveys revealed that overwhelmingly, students found the Balint groups exceeded their expectations, were a good use of their time, and should be added to future clinical years. Surveys also revealed that scheduling concerns needed to be addressed in future iterations. Because of student feedback, Balint groups were included as part of the required curriculum for future cohorts. Further quantitative research would be useful in measuring empathy levels before and after Balint groups and into future practice.
Presenters
Emile Mike BoutinAsst Dean for Faculty & Student Success, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Massachusetts, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
Balint, Empathy, Physician, Assistant, Education
