Wellbeing Conceptualizations in Family Medicine Trainees: A Hermeneutic Review

Abstract

Phenomenon

High levels of burnout have been widely reported among postgraduate medical trainees, however relatively little literature has examined what ‘wellbeing’ means for this group. Moreover, the literature that does exist has generally overlooked the potential role of specialty factors in influencing such conceptualizations. This is particularly true for family medicine and general practice trainees – a specialty considered to be unique due, in part, to its focus on community-based care. The present review sought to explore conceptualizations of wellbeing specifically within the context of family medicine and general practice training.

Approach

The Embase, Ovid Medline, and PsycINFO databases were searched from inception to November 2019 for literature examining wellbeing in family medicine and general practice trainees. Literature was iteratively thematically analyzed through the process of a hermeneutic cycle. In total, 36 articles were reviewed over seven rounds, at which point saturation was reached.

Findings

The findings confirm the complex and multifaceted nature of wellbeing as experienced by family medicine and general practice trainees. An emphasis on psychological factors – including emotional intelligence, positive mental health, self-confidence and resilience – alongside positive interpersonal relationships, rewards, and balanced interactions between trainees’ personal and professional demands were deemed critical elements.

Insights

A model of wellbeing that emphasizes rich connections between trainees’ personal and professional life domains is proposed. Further qualitative research will help to extend current understanding of wellbeing among medical trainees, including the individuality of each specialty’s experiences, with the potential to enhance interventional efforts.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Maureen Bell, Visiting Research Librarian, The University of Adelaide, for her assistance in preparing the database search strategy.

Presentations

Preliminary results from this project were presented at the General Practice Training and Education Conference (GPTEC) on the 4^th of September 2019 in Melbourne, Australia.

Additional information

Funding

The first author was the recipient of an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship while completing this study.