The impact of a physician awareness group and the first year of training on hematology-oncology fellows.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of a Balint-like physician awareness group on hematology-oncology fellows' attitudes and measure changes in attitudes during the first fellowship year.


METHODS
We used a modified crossover design in which one half of a fellowship class at a time was exposed to the group intervention over a 2-year period (2000 to 2002). Two 14-fellow classes were followed for 1 year each and were given three "attitudes" questionnaires, at the beginning, middle, and end of the academic year.


RESULTS
Forty Balint group sessions were held during the 2-year study period; 82 questionnaires of the 84 administered (98%) were recovered. Instrument content and criterion validity were demonstrated, as was topic domain reliability. Overall, mean attitude scores increased following the group intervention, from 3.6 (95% CI, 3.5 to 3.7) to 3.7 (95% CI, 3.6 to 3.8; P =.09). Within domains, scores increased in a "fellow's views of him/herself as a physician," from 3.8 (95% CI, 3.6 to 3.9) to 4.1 (95% CI, 3.9 to 4.2; P =.008) and "comfort dealing with emotional patient/clinical situations," from 3.5 (95% CI, 3.3 to 3.7) to 3.7 (95% CI, 3.6 to 3.9; P =.11). Changes in responses to individual questions included: an increase in fellows' comfort with the technical aspects of being an oncologist (P <.03); an increase in fellows' comfort with discussing the stress of home at work (P <.023); and an increase among fellows in feeling pressed for time to discuss psychosocial issues with patients (P =.035).


CONCLUSIONS
A physician awareness group was feasible and enhanced fellows' development as physicians. Further research is needed to determine how to incorporate such groups into oncology fellowships.
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005192:Family Health; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D005260:Female; D006405:Hematology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013315:Stress, Psychological