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Staying Well DVD
The project: In December 2004, a 12-month project was undertaken in the Northern Territory titled “Improving the Wellbeing and Self-Care of Junior Doctors”. It:
- Trialled two Wellbeing Workshops. 9 junior doctors attended a 1-day workshop in March and a 2-day retreat in June 2005. Feedback on the workshops was very positive. 83% of participants stated afterwards that wellbeing teaching should be compulsory and annual, and 100% felt that they had learnt self-care skills and would make a change in their lives.
- Evaluated the wellbeing of the junior doctor participants and compared it to a group that did not do the workshops. Whilst wellbeing levels deteriorated similarly in both groups over the 6 months studied, there was some improvement in self-care practices in those who attended the workshops. These doctors also reported a dramatic improvement in the understanding and valuing of wellbeing issues, skills and motivation to improve wellbeing, and knowledge of how and where to seek support.
- Produced the Staying Well DVD.
The DVD: “Staying Well. Self-Care for Junior Doctors” is an 18-minute program that stimulates and informs discussion about wellbeing for doctors in the first years of their hospital training. Included in the package is an educational insert to assist discussion following viewing of the DVD.
The DVD is a heartfelt and very honest insight into the issues of wellbeing, told by junior doctors themselves. Fast paced, with local music and settings, it mixes humour with wisdom and is entirely unscripted. This DVD is the story of junior doctor wellbeing, told by those living it, to be shared with those living it
Acknowledgments:
Project implementation: Northern Territory General Practice Education and Northern Territory Postgraduate Medical Council.
Project funding: Medical Training Review Panel Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Ethics approval: Human Research Ethics Committee of Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services and Menzies School of Health Research, 2005.
DVD production: Formation Studios.
