JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Background:

Burnout, anxiety, and depression continue to cause suffering among physicians, post-graduate medical trainees and medical students globally. The literature shows an increasing prevalence of these psychological symptoms in Canadian physicians between 2019 and 2021, attributable in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic. The need to support physician mental health and wellbeing is greater than ever.

Objective:

Objective:

The primary goal of this project is to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate a daily supportive text messaging program (Wellness4MDs) to reduce the prevalence and severity of the symptoms of burnout, anxiety and depression among physicians, post-graduate medical trainees and medical students in Canada.

Methods:

Methods:

This is a multi-stakeholder, mixed-methods, multi-year implementation science project. Project design, implementation and monitoring will be modelled on the highly successful Text4Hope and Wellness4Teachers programs already launched in Alberta. Project evaluation will be conducted through a quantitative prospective longitudinal approach using a paired sample comparison, a naturalistic cross-sectional controlled design and satisfaction surveys. Prevalence estimates for psychological problems would be based on baseline data from self-completed validated rating scales. Additional data will be collected at designated time points for paired comparison. Outcome measures will be assessed using standardized rating scales, including the Maslach Burnout Inventory for burnout symptoms, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression symptoms, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 scale (GAD-7) for anxiety symptoms, and the World Health Organization- Five Wellbeing Index (WHO-5).

Results:

Results:

The project is expected to be launched by the last quarter of 2023, and the program evaluation results will become available within 36 months. The Wellness4MDs program is expected to reduce the prevalence and severity of psychological problems among physicians, post-graduate medical trainees and medical students in Canada, and achieve high subscriber satisfaction.

Conclusions:

Conclusions:

The results from Wellness4MDs project evaluation will provide key information regarding the effectiveness of daily supportive text messages and links to mental health resources on these mental health parameters in Canadian physicians, post-graduate trainees and medical students. Information from this study will be useful for informing policy and decision-making concerning psychological interventions for physicians in Canada. Clinical Trial: This study has been approved by the Human ethics review boards of both the University of Alberta (Pro00129541). Informed consent will be implied if subscribers access the study information leaflet, complete the survey questions and submit responses.