The Impact of a Physician Awareness Group and the First Year of Training on Hematology-Oncology Fellows

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the impact of a Balint-like physician awareness group on hematology-oncology fellows’ attitudes and measure changes in attitudes during the first fellowship year.Patients and Methods: We used a modified crossover design in which one half of a fellowship class at a time was exposed to the group intervention over a 2-year period (2000 to 2002). Two 14-fellow classes were followed for 1 year each and were given three “attitudes” questionnaires, at the beginning, middle, and end of the academic year.Results: Forty Balint group sessions were held during the 2-year study period; 82 questionnaires of the 84 administered (98%) were recovered. Instrument content and criterion validity were demonstrated, as was topic domain reliability. Overall, mean attitude scores increased following the group intervention, from 3.6 (95% CI, 3.5 to 3.7) to 3.7 (95% CI, 3.6 to 3.8; P = .09). Within domains, scores increased in a “fellow’s views of him/herself as a physician,” from 3.8 (95% CI, 3.6 to 3.9) to 4.1 (95% CI, 3.9 to 4.2; P = .008) and “comfort dealing with emotional patient/clinical situations,” from 3.5 (95% CI, 3.3 to 3.7) to 3.7 (95% CI, 3.6 to 3.9; P = .11). Changes in responses to individual questions included: an increase in fellows’ comfort with the technical aspects of being an oncologist (P < .03); an increase in fellows’ comfort with discussing the stress of home at work (P < .023); and an increase among fellows in feeling pressed for time to discuss psychosocial issues with patients (P = .035).Conclusion: A physician awareness group was feasible and enhanced fellows’ development as physicians. Further research is needed to determine how to incorporate such groups into oncology fellowships.