Self-Reported Preferences for Help-Seeking and Barriers to Using Mental Health Supports Among Internal Medicine Residents: Exploratory Use of an Econometric Best-Worst Scaling Framework for Gathering Physician Wellness Preferences

• DOI: 10.2196/28623
• Publication Date: 2021-08-01T21:02:22Z
• Authors: Andrew Wu; Varsha Radhakrishnan; Elizabeth Targan; Timothy M Scarella; John Torous; Kevin P Hill
• Keywords: Medicine (General); Original Paper; 03 medical and health sciences; R5-920; 0302 clinical medicine; LC8-6691; Special aspects of education; 3. Good health

Burnout interventions are limited by low use. Understanding resident physician preferences for burnout may increase utilization and improve the assessment of these interventions.This study aims to use an econometric best-worst scaling (BWS) framework survey internal medicine physicians establish help-seeking barriers using wellness supports quantifying selections 7 support options barriers.Internal at our institution completed anonymous web-based BWS during 2020-2021 academic year. This cross-sectional was analyzed with multinomial logistic regression latent class modeling determine relative rank ordering factors seeking supports. Analysis variance Tukey honest significant difference posthoc test used analyze differences in mean utility scores representing choice options.Of 163 invited residents, 77 (47.2% response rate) survey. Top-ranking included informal peer (best: 71%; worst: 0.6%) from friends family 70%; 1.6%). counseling time 75%; 5%) money 35%; 21%).Overall, findings suggest that formal mental health is reflective seek help informally increasing will require addressing pragmatic cost. Assessing wellness-related initiatives contribute understanding services among physicians, which can be determined a framework.