Skip to main content
Well-being is a state that addresses physical, mental, and social dimensions of an individual’s life.(1) While healthcare providers have extensive training to diagnosis and treat physical and mental health conditions, social determinants of health continue to draw more attention. In particular, social connectedness has shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic in both personal and professional settings. It has been suggested that choosing the term “physical distancing” over “social distancing” may have been more tactful to encourage social connection, in what evolved into new formations, from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.(2) As a result, loneliness and isolation frequently occurred, which are known to be detrimental to health and well-being.(3) Despite the stressors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, this time has equipped individuals with adaptability and introspection, and on a larger scale growth for policy change to support mental health and well-being. Joy in the workplace has been reported to mitigate the risk of burnout and promote individual well-being.(4,5)
There are few intervention studies related to joy in the workplace among healthcare settings. A study of physicians who participated in a 6-month reflective, shared experience demonstrated improved burnout, depressive symptoms, and job satisfaction.(6)
The authors describe how a shared experience with a cases and conundrums conference promoted social connection and collaboration in the workplace. Having a shared, relatable interest among healthcare providers can reduce the risk of burnout.
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Health People 2020 Framework. https://www.healthypeople.gov/sites/default/files/HP2020Framework.pdf. Published 2010. Accessed February 23, 2021.
2. On Being with Krista Tippett [Internet]; 2021 December 2, 2021. Podcast. Available from: https://onbeing.org/programs/vivek-murthy-and-richard-davidson-the-futur...
3. Banerjee D, Rai M. Social isolation in Covid-19: The impact of loneliness. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020;66(6):525-527.
4. Dyrbye LN, West CP, Kelsey EA, Gossard AA, Satele D, Shanafelt T. A national study of personal accomplishment, burnout, and satisfaction with work-life integration among advance practice nurses relative to other workers. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2020.
5. West CP, Dyrbye LN, Rabatin JT, et al. Intervention to promote physician well-being, job satisfaction, and professionalism: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2014;174(4):527-533.
6. West CP, Dyrbye LN, Satele DV, Shanafelt TD. Colleagues Meeting to Promote and Sustain Satisfaction (COMPASS) Groups for Physician Well-Being: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021;96(10):2606-2614.