Exploring the Effect of Narrative Medicine on Burnout and Compassion Satisfaction Among EM Physicians

Background: Burnout among emergency medicine (EM) physicians continues to rise, exacerbated by structural inefficiencies, shift work, and high emotional demands. While interventions addressing physician well-being are proliferating, many lack evidence or fail to address the relational and narrative dimensions of medical practice. Narrative medicine (NM), a reflective practice rooted in literary engagement, has shown promise in reducing depersonalization and enhancing professional fulfillment in other specialties but remains underexplored in EM. Objective: To evaluate the effect of voluntary, off-campus narrative medicine workshops on burnout and compassion satisfaction among EM physicians using validated psychometric tools. Methods: This quasi-experimental, prospective study recruited EM physicians (residents, fellows, and attendings) from four hospitals in Chicago. Participants self-selected into an intervention group (attending NM workshops) or control group (no intervention). Six NM sessions were held over 12 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention surveys included the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey for Medical Personnel (MBI-HSS (MP)) and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL-5). Subdomains were analyzed using score-based categories and individual change scores. Results: Thirty-one participants completed both pre- and post-surveys. No statistically significant changes were observed in emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment, compassion satisfaction, burnout, or secondary traumatic stress between groups. Demographic imbalance (notably gender) and low participation in repeated sessions limited the power to detect differences. Informal feedback suggested subjective benefit for some participants. Conclusion: Although no measurable psychometric improvements were identified, this study underscores the feasibility of implementing NM in EM and highlights methodological challenges in capturing emotional and reflective change. Future studies should incorporate mixed-methods designs, ensure protected participation time, and examine gendered responses to wellness interventions.

Author dc:creator

• Shana Elisha Nelson Ross (23291701)

• Emergency Medicine Physicians

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.25417/uic.31451443.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/31451443