[Experiences of frontline caregivers in the midst of a health crisis : a participatory study in the Liege region]. / Face a la COVID-19. Vécu des soignants de la première ligne de soins au cœur de la crise sanitaire : étude participative en région liégeoise.

The aim of this two-stage research was to document the stressors and resources experienced by front-line professional groups at the heart of the health crisis due to COVID-19, as well as to bring out of a multidisciplinary reflection, a series of priority proposals for strengthening the care system. Our results highlighted great interprofessional similarities in terms of negative and positive experiences (e.g., feeling of powerlessness, support among colleagues), as well as professional specificities (e.g., the painful feeling of being «alone at the front¼ among nurses). Although the stress, fatigue and/or lassitude factors cited by the participants were more numerous than the protective factors, several participants experienced an opportunity for personal and professional development. Overall, this research found that all front-line professionals have a role to play in improving and building resilience in the system, and that this role could be most effective if played in a context of increased multidisciplinary coordination and communication.

Cette recherche en deux étapes avait pour but de documenter les stresseurs et les ressources expérimentés par les groupes professionnels de la première ligne au cœur de la crise sanitaire liée à la COVID-19, ainsi que de faire émerger, d'une réflexion pluridisciplinaire, une série de propositions prioritaires pour le renforcement du système de soins. Nos résultats ont mis en lumière de grandes similitudes interprofessionnelles en termes de vécus négatifs et positifs (par exemple, le sentiment d'impuissance, le soutien entre collègues), ainsi que des spécificités professionnelles (par exemple, le sentiment douloureux d'être «seules au front¼ chez les infirmières). Bien que les facteurs de stress, de fatigue et/ou de lassitude cités par les participants soient plus nombreux que les facteurs de protection, plusieurs participants ont expérimenté une opportunité de développement personnel et professionnel. De manière générale, il est ressorti de cette recherche que tous les professionnels de la 1ère ligne de soins ont un rôle à jouer dans l'amélioration et la résilience du système, et que ce rôle pourrait être d'autant plus efficace s'il se jouait dans un contexte de coordination et de communication pluridisciplinaire intensifié.

Experiences of general practice residents during the COVID-19 health crisis: impact on anxiety and motivation for general practice / Vécu des internes en médecine générale lors de la crise sanitaire du COVID-19 : répercussions sur l'anxiété et la motivation pour la médecine générale

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 health crisis has turned the entire health care system and its actors upside down. For interns in general practice (IMGs), it has changed the way they practice medicine on a daily basis, disrupted their training, and highlighted their social responsibility, a factor that predisposes them to practice general medicine. OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the health crisis on the anxiety and motivation for general practice of IMGs. METHOD: Cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire (Qualtrics©) distributed by e-mail to IMGs of two French-speaking Belgian universities between 1 and 31 July 2020 following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: In a sample of 188 IMGs, the following variables, considered as significant risk factor for anxiety, were analyzed: psychological distress prior to the lockdown (OR=2.894), having more than 15 daily telephone consultations during the lockdown (OR=2.724), worrying about being affected by COVID-19 (OR=2.892), or deterioration in quality of life (OR=3.335). Conversely, the feeling of practicing in a supportive environment (OR=0.311) is a protective factor against anxiety. Finally, the feeling of social usefulness reinforces the motivation of IMGs for their profession (OR=4.737). CONCLUSION: This study allowed us to better identify the factors of anxiety and motivation for specialization in general practice among IMGs just after the first wave of COVID-19. Awareness of the risk factors for professional distress and how to deal with them should be considered in the university curriculum.

Introduction: La crise sanitaire du COVID-19 a ébranlé l'ensemble du système de soins de santé et des acteurs qui le constitue. Pour les internes en médecine générale (IMG), celle-ci a modifié l'exercice de la pratique médicale quotidienne, perturbé leur formation et mis en exergue leur responsabilité sociale, l'un des facteurs prédisposant à exercer la médecine générale. Objectif: Évaluer l'impact de la crise sanitaire sur l'anxiété et la motivation pour la médecine générale des IMG. Méthode: Étude transversale réalisée par le biais d'un questionnaire en ligne (Qualtrics©) distribué par courrier électronique aux IMG de deux universités belges francophones, entre le 1er et le 31 juillet 2020, à la suite de la première vague de la pandémie du COVID-19. Résultats: Dans un échantillon de 188 IMG, les variables suivantes ont été analysées : la détresse psychologique préalable au confinement (OR=2,894), réaliser plus de 15 consultations téléphoniques journalières durant le confinement (OR=2,724), l'inquiétude d'être affecté par la COVID-19 (OR=2,892) ou la dégradation de la qualité de vie (OR=3,335), agissent comme des facteurs de risque significatifs de l'anxiété. A contrario, le sentiment de pratiquer dans un environnement soutenant (OR=0,311) est un facteur protecteur de l'anxiété. Enfin, le sentiment d'utilité sociale renforce la motivation des IMG pour leur métier de médecin généraliste (OR=4,737). Conclusion: Cette étude a permis de mieux identifier certains facteurs contributifs d'anxiété parmi les IMG et d'évaluer leur motivation pour la spécialisation en médecine générale après la première vague du COVID-19. Une sensibilisation aux facteurs de risque de la détresse professionnelle et aux ressources à déployer pour y faire face devrait être intégrée au programme des facultés.

Multidimensional factors of burnout in general practice: a cross sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: GPs are particularly vulnerable to job burnout. Tailored prevention and intervention strategies are needed. AIM: To investigate organisational, interpersonal, and individual factors contributing to exhaustion and disengagement at work among GPs. DESIGN & SETTING: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a sample of Belgian GPs. METHOD: A total of 358 doctors (73% females, 301 with complete data) completed an online anonymous questionnaire assessing job burnout, psychosocial characteristics of the work environment, perceived social support in the private domain, emotional competence, and self-compassion. RESULTS: GPs reported moderate levels of exhaustion and disengagement. Regression models showed that included factors jointly explained 69% of the variance in exhaustion and 63% in disengagement. Exhaustion was significantly predicted by female sex (ß effect size = -0.1), high perceived emotional demands (ß = 0.19), as well as low self-compassion (ß = -0.14) and low emotional competence (ß = 0.09). Disengagement was significantly predicted by low seniority (ß = -0.12) and limited opportunities for development (ß = -0.16). Both exhaustion and disengagement were predicted by low perceived quality of work (ß = -0.19 and -0.14, respectively), meaning of work (ß = -0.17 and -0.31, respectively), and role clarity (ß = 0.09 and 0.12, respectively), as well as high perceived work-life conflict (ß = 0.46 and 0.21, respectively). Moreover, GPs working in a multidisciplinary group reported lower levels of exhaustion and disengagement than those working in a monodisciplinary group or a solo practice, and this difference was associated with factors such as work-life conflict. CONCLUSION: Organisational, interpersonal, and intrapersonal factors interact to predict a substantial part of burnout in general practice. The most significant risk factors were perceived work-life conflict and poor meaning of work. Policymakers should work to support more sustainable practices based on the specific needs and constraints reported by GPs.

Impact of emotional competence on physicians' clinical reasoning: a scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical reasoning (CR) is a key competence for physicians and a major source of damaging medical errors. Many strategies have been explored to improve CR quality, most of them based on knowledge enhancement, cognitive debiasing and the use of analytical reasoning. If increasing knowledge and fostering analytical reasoning have shown some positive results, the impact of debiasing is however mixed. Debiasing and promoting analytical reasoning have also been criticised for their lack of pragmatism. Alternative means of increasing CR quality are therefore still needed. Because emotions are known to influence the quality of reasoning in general, we hypothesised that emotional competence (EC) could improve physicians' CR. EC refers to the ability to identify, understand, express, regulate and use emotions. The influence of EC on CR remains unclear. This article presents a scoping review protocol, the aim of which will be to describe the current state of knowledge concerning the influence of EC on physicians' CR, the type of available literature and finally the different methods used to examine the link between EC and CR. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: The population of interest is physicians and medical students. EC will be explored according to the model of Mikolajczak et al, describing five major components of EC (identify, understand, express, regulate and use emotions). The concept of CR will include terms related to its processes and outcomes. Context will include real or simulated clinical situations. The search for primary sources and reviews will be conducted in MEDLINE (via Ovid), Scopus and PsycINFO. The grey literature will be searched in the references of included articles and in OpenGrey. Study selection and data extraction will be conducted using the Covidence software. Search and inclusion results will be reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping review model (PRISMA-ScR). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: There are no ethical or safety concerns regarding this review. REGISTRATION DETAILS: OSF Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GM7YD.

Exploring the diverse career trajectories of general practice graduates in the French-speaking part of Belgium: An interview study.

BACKGROUND: Several European countries face a shortage of general practitioners (GPs), in part due to GP attrition. Most studies of GP attrition have focussed on why GPs decide to leave. Yet understanding why GPs decide to remain may also elicit potential interventions to reduce attrition. OBJECTIVES: This study examined GP graduates' career trajectories and underlying decisions to elucidate the factors influencing GP attrition. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews of early to mid-career general practice graduates having completed training in Belgian French-speaking universities between 1999 and 2013. We sampled participants from three categories: full-time GPs, part-time GPs, no longer working as GPs. We analysed each participant's career trajectory and broke it down into major phases. We performed thematic analysis of the factors influencing participants' trajectories. We compared and contrasted trajectories to develop a typology of career trajectories. RESULTS: We identified six types of career trajectories: 'stable' (never considered leaving general practice), 'reaffirmed' (had considered leaving but made substantial changes whilst remaining), 'reactional reorientations' (had left to escape the challenges of general practice), 'inspired reorientations' (had left to pursue a different job), 'reorientations out of loyalty' (had never wanted to practice as GPs and had remained true to their original professional aspirations) and 'mobiles' (valued change and did not want to set-up practice). CONCLUSION: Reasons GPs leave the profession are multiple. The typology that emerged indicates that only some of the career trajectories would benefit from interventions to reduce attrition such as improving working conditions and providing psychological support for GPs.

Young general practitioners' professional activities: a survey in the French-speaking part of Belgium.

INTRODUCTION: This study described the professional activities of graduates of the Advanced Master of General Practice of the Belgian French-speaking universities from 1999 to 2013 and identified factors influencing their situation. METHODS: Between November 2014 and June 2015, all graduates were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their professional activities. The first part of the analysis described the respondent's socio-demographic and professional characteristics. The second part aimed at detecting possible factors influencing GPs' professional situation. RESULTS: The main results of the study showed that 78.5% of graduates still worked as GPs and 21.5% left and had another activity. The way graduates worked in General Practice was also highly diverse in terms of both working time and types of activities. Only a minority of them were exclusively performing General Practice (8.5%). 45.8% of GPs worked part-time, and were more commonly women and GPs in group practice. This survey confirmed feminisation of the profession and increasing work in associations. Among factors influencing retention in General Practice, preference for specialising in General Practice at time of graduation in medicine and duration of practice influence retention in practice. CONCLUSION: Our survey put the emphasis on the evolution of practice: job and vocational training planning should not be performed based only on previous generations. There is no one predefined way to practise; the blurred boundaries of General Practice activities do not allow for the drafting of a reference frame that could help workforce planning.

[Preventive health care and health promotion: Which models for supporting the evolution of clinical practice in primary health care?]. / Prévention et promotion de la santé : quels modèles pour soutenir l'évolution des pratiques en soins de santé primaires ?

OBJECTIVES: Published operating models about preventive health care and health promotion in primary care were sought with the aim of (1) compiling a functional inventory; and (2) to formulate working hypotheses for the improvement of clinical practice towards more efficiency and more equity. METHODS: Narrative literature review, using keywords related to the various prevention classes, health promotion, primary care, practice models and health care delivery. The diversity of models led to a multi-criteria analysis. RESULTS: Twelve models were selected. Their characteristics were unevenly distributed. The models, whose authors announce that they apply to prevention, mainly describe approaches that focus on individuals within physician-patient relationship, and take into account practice organization. Some socio-ecological and systems models illustrate health promotion: educational practice, group- or population-based targets, community environment and social determinants of health. There is little room for patients in elaborating the models, as they have little role in health care systems. The definitions of prevention, health promotion and patient education greatly differ from one model to another. DISCUSSION: Little is known about practical implementation of the models; assessment data are scarce. Some elements valued by health promotion could be integrated to health care: empowerment of citizens, addressing community environment; increased involvement in local health professionals' networks; integration of individual and collective approaches within the same health care facilities to address simultaneously individual customization, efficiency and equity objectives. These developments may call for adaptation in vocational training and continuous professional development: communication skills, awareness to public health concepts, and early and longitudinal exposure to community-based learning experiences for students.