Under the patronage of the European Academy of Teachers in GP/FP (EURACT), the Slovene Family Medicine Society, including the Department of Family Practice, University of Ljubljana, the Department of Family Practice, University of Maribor, the Institute of Family Medicine and the OZG Primary Health Care Center Bled, organized the 22nd International EURACT Bled course, on 24–28 September 2013. As usual, the course was held in Bled, Slovenia.
This year’s subject was ‘Learning and teaching about doctors’ wellbeing’. Healthy doctors are a prerequisite for healthy patients. We know that family medicine can be a risky and stressful business. Family doctors, like other health professionals, are at risk for a number of adverse outcomes because of their work. The demands of the profession and the pressures of modern life expose doctors to increased risk for professional burnout, alcoholism, drug abuse, anxiety, depression, suicide and divorce. However, many doctors avoid this and have long, happy careers and live balanced lives. There is much to learn from them.
In this course, we discussed some of the risk factors and adverse outcomes that might occur in family medicine, we explored and analysed successful ways of preventing burnout and coping with these issues to increase physician's chances of having satisfying and productive careers.
Target audience were teachers in family medicine/general practice, involved in undergraduate and postgraduate education: 65 experienced senior teachers as well as juniors at the beginning of their educational careers from 15 countries attended this course.
Course directors this autumn were: Jaime Correia de Sousa and Yonah Yaphe (Portugal), Jo Buchanan (UK), Henry Finnegan (Ireland), Janko Kersnik and Mateja Bulc (Slovenia).
The traditional schedule of Bled EURACT courses is a morning plenary session, which is followed by work in four groups, which remain the same for the week, discussing the keynote's topic.
The first keynote lecture was ‘Doctors’ wellbeing’, offered by Jaime Correia de Sousa, followed by group work exploring problems with treating colleagues, managing difficult trainees or students. Second keynote was ‘Treating medical professionals’ by Jo Buchanan; followed by group discussion on the skills, needed for treating medical professionals. In the afternoon we participated in the famous Bled Course’s Field work, this year topic was ‘Meeting the old, happy doctors: How did you manage?’. The third day started with Yonah Yaphe’s keynote Student, trainee or colleague in trouble. Group work followed, with exercises on ‘How to manage colleague/trainee/student in trouble’ and preparing the final module. Friday started with Henry Finnegan’s keynote ‘How to teach trainee to remain healthy?’, the groups explored the role of art, humanities and hobbies in maintaining one's health. The famous traditional Joker Session by Igor Švab was on the attributes of an ideal death and treating the dying doctor.
Saturdays are always dedicated first to participating countries’ reports ‘What is new in the teaching/research area in my country’. Group presentations follow—all working groups presented their final teaching module on doctors’ wellbeing. Target populations for the modules were students, trainees or established doctors in their CME/CPD courses. Course participants can take these modules home and use them in their teaching. Many countries follow this recommendation and organize their own repetitions of Bled course for their teachers in family medicine, by themselves or with a little help from the Bled Course directors.
The feedback session, evaluating the course, revealed that all participants enjoyed the course, in particular the company of fellow doctors who are teachers in family medicine, the field work, the in depth group work and also the social programme. Many participants assessed the course as the best so far.