(P39) Evaluating the Impact of Coaching on Burnout in Long-term Care

Objective/Aim: Our aim was to implement a well-studied coaching program for nurse practitioners working in long-term care facilities with the goal of reducing burnout and improving the well-being of these providers. Self-reported psychological metrics were used to assess the impact of the program.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented stress, leading to significant burnout among healthcare providers in post-acute and long-term care (PALTC) settings. Provider well-being is crucial for high-quality care in this setting. As this patient population continues to grow, interventions that target the well-being of these providers are much needed. Findings indicate coaching programs may be effective in reducing medical provider burnout. Advanced practice providers serve a key role in the care of PALTC patients.

Quality Improvement

Methods: A coaching program (Palamara et al., doi: 10.4300/JGME-D-14-00791.1) that has been linked to a reduction in medical provider burnout was adapted to providers working in the PALTC setting. 4 physician coaches participated in 2 hours of positive psychology coaching training. 24 nurse practitioners working in long-term care facilities throughout Illinois opted into the program. Participants met with their coaches monthly for 5 months. A self-reported score using the PERMA scale (Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishments) was collected before and after the coaching program. The PERMA scale is a widely-used and validated measure of well-being which negatively correlates with burnout. Qualitative interviews were conducted in which participants gave personal feedback on the program. We intend to repeat the program after incorporating feedback and findings from our quantitative analyses.

Results: 24 nurse practitioners opted into the coaching program. Of the initial 24, 2 participants were unable to complete the program. Among the participants who completed the program (n=22), 18 (81.82%) were female and the average age was 49.7. 22 (100%) of the participants met with their coaches 3 or more times and 11 (50%) met all 5 times. 21 (95.45%) of the participants rated the program as helpful. The average score for overall well-being among participants (a composite of all five domains of PERMA) increased from 7.56 to 8.25. Paired t-tests showed significant improvement in overall well-being (p=0.006). PERMA subscores for positive emotion, relationships, accomplishment, and overall happiness significantly improved (p-values of 0.006, 0.009, 0.015, and 0.010, respectively).

Conclusions: Our program was highly rated and provider well-being metrics increased significantly. The time and cost needed to operate such programs are low. The coach training materials are publicly available, and the training process took less than two hours. We anticipate our findings will inform similar initiatives for other members of the interdisciplinary team in PALTC settings.

All authors have stated there are no financial disclosures to be made that are pertinent to this abstract.