Abstract
InnovAiT is produced on a 3-year cycle. However, many articles do not significantly go out of date in that time. This section of InnovAiT summarises articles from the previous cycle of InnovAiT that GPs and GPs in training might still find useful today.
Resilience: A personal story
Dr Chris Manning
InnovAiT 2016 9(6): 328–332
An editorial from Dr Toby Hollands introduces this and other articles in a special issue on resilience, which aims to raise awareness and explain the science behind burnout to help readers develop skills and maintain long, varied and fulfilling careers. Dr Chris Manning opens with a moving personal account encouraging us to remember our humanity and fallibility.
The neurobiology of resilience
Professor David Peters
InnovAiT 2016 9(6): 333–341
An understanding of neurobiology may help us understand how persistent stress can distort the view we have of ourselves, our patients and our work. This article considers that doctors receive too little training about empathy, emotional intelligence and leadership. Persistent survival-mode emotions activate regions of the brain that can cause illness and interfere with decision making and social engagement. This article offers insights that, along with developing self-care skills, empathy and self-awareness, may promote an upward spiral of resilience.
Supporting GPs to remain mentally healthy: What works?
Ellie Balme and Dr Clare Gerada
InnovAiT 2016 9(6): 342–346
Doctors are some of the most resilient members of society, but tend to be stoical and prone to deny vulnerability. They are subject to the same effects of stress as patients. This article explores the causes of mental ill-health among GPs, the concept of resilience and initiatives to help sick doctors.
Building resilience through leadership
Dr Olivia Jagger and Professor George Lewith
InnovAiT 2016 9(6): 347–354
This article promotes building resilience through leadership skills that can be learnt and developed to counteract burnout from workload, responsibility, uncertainty and suffering. Leadership can involve taking control of the working environment and promoting team-working to provide a supportive, protective environment while also enhancing work performance.
REFRAME: Resilience training for GPs
Dr Siobhan Lynch, Dr Mark Lown, et al.
InnovAiT 2016 9(6): 356–360
There is some evidence that intensive, brief resilience training improves well-being and resilience. This article describes work to find out whether a particular programme is effective and promises further evaluation.
Taking back control
Professor Johnny Lyon-Maris
InnovAiT 2016 9(6): 370–373
This article, with a title today eliciting feelings of exasperation and despair, looks at the causes of stress and makes practical, controversial suggestions to help clinicians say ‘No’ to patients in a supportive way, aimed at reducing inappropriate demand and educating patients. The simple techniques offered might encourage patients to take more responsibility for their own health.
Burnout in general practice
Dr Daniel Jones and Dr Peter Davies
InnovAiT 2016 9(6): 364–369
This article considers how work pressures for GPs are increasing and are set to cause burnout, a state of physical and mental exhaustion, in many. It describes the support available for healthcare professionals both locally and nationally. If any of the concerns raised in this special issue have affected you, then we hope it also offers help and some solutions.