Effect of professional coaching on surgeon well-being

Editor's Note

This randomized, controlled study led by researchers from the University of Colorado, Denver, and the Mayo Clinic, finds that 6 months of professional coaching can reduce burnout, improve quality of life, and increase resilience among surgeons.

A total of 80 surgeons were included in the analysis.

At the conclusion of 6 months of professional coaching (intervention group) of surgeons, compared with no coaching (control group):

• Overall burnout decreased by 2.5% in the intervention group, compared with an increase of 2.5% in the control group.
• Resilience scores improved by 1.9 points in the intervention group, compared with a decrease of 0.2 points in the control group.

Six months after completion of the coaching period, burnout had returned to near baseline levels, but resilience continued to improve in the intervention group.

The control group, which subsequently received professional coaching during months 6 to 12, experienced improvements in burnout relative to the intervention group during their postintervention period.

The researchers concluded that 6 months of professional coaching improved burnout and resilience among surgeons, with reductions in improvement during the subsequent 6 months.