Rest and relaxation spaces: Accessibility and availability for wellbeing of doctors

TY - JOUR

T1 - Rest and relaxation spaces

T2 - ASME 2022 – Future proof medical education: Practical wisdom and adapting to change

AU - Walker, Kim

AU - Aitken, Gill

AU - Cunningham, Kathryn

AU - Gibson Smith, Katherine

AU - Scanlan, Gillian

AU - Cecil, Jo

AU - Gordon, Lisi

N1 - Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. The Clinical Teacher published by Association for the Study of Medical Education and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on the wellbeing of healthcare workers at work, with Rest and Relaxation (R&R) spaces being identified as a key facility. However, differences between Scottish doctors exist in perception regarding their availability and accessibility. This research, part of a major study into doctors wellbeing, investigated the existence of dissonance in individual and organisational perceptions regarding the provision of R&R spaces and to identify potential barriers to access. Methods: Data was collected via interviews with hospital doctors across NHS Scotland and questionnaires/Freedom of Information requests to NHS Scotland Regional Health Boards. Data was analysed using content analysis. Results: Hospital doctors (n = 29) from across Scotland and all NHS Scotland Regional Health Boards (NHSBoards) were included in the analysis. Dissonance existed in the perceptions of hospital doctors and NHSBoards regarding the provision of R&R Spaces for NHS Scotland healthcare workers/staff during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. Doctors reported that R&R Spaces had been removed from one-quarter of NHSBoards, whilst NHSBoards stated that R&R Spaces were still available. Barriers to accessing R&R Spaces existed for 16 doctors across 8 NHSBoards which included: Perceived removal of spaces, inconvenient location; lack of awareness of provision; restrictions on access. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that well-publicised initiatives to support staff do not always have the desired outcome. It is not enough to provide R&R spaces; consideration needs to be given to the accessibility and availability of the provision and ensuring all staff are aware of their existence via effective communication.

AB - Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a light on the wellbeing of healthcare workers at work, with Rest and Relaxation (R&R) spaces being identified as a key facility. However, differences between Scottish doctors exist in perception regarding their availability and accessibility. This research, part of a major study into doctors wellbeing, investigated the existence of dissonance in individual and organisational perceptions regarding the provision of R&R spaces and to identify potential barriers to access. Methods: Data was collected via interviews with hospital doctors across NHS Scotland and questionnaires/Freedom of Information requests to NHS Scotland Regional Health Boards. Data was analysed using content analysis. Results: Hospital doctors (n = 29) from across Scotland and all NHS Scotland Regional Health Boards (NHSBoards) were included in the analysis. Dissonance existed in the perceptions of hospital doctors and NHSBoards regarding the provision of R&R Spaces for NHS Scotland healthcare workers/staff during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. Doctors reported that R&R Spaces had been removed from one-quarter of NHSBoards, whilst NHSBoards stated that R&R Spaces were still available. Barriers to accessing R&R Spaces existed for 16 doctors across 8 NHSBoards which included: Perceived removal of spaces, inconvenient location; lack of awareness of provision; restrictions on access. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that well-publicised initiatives to support staff do not always have the desired outcome. It is not enough to provide R&R spaces; consideration needs to be given to the accessibility and availability of the provision and ensuring all staff are aware of their existence via effective communication.

U2 - 10.1111/tct.13542

DO - 10.1111/tct.13542

M3 - Meeting abstract

SN - 1743-4971

VL - 19

SP - 55

JO - Clinical Teacher

JF - Clinical Teacher

IS - S2

M1 - e13542

Y2 - 6 July 2022 through 8 July 2022

ER -