Coda and Catharsis: Exploring the Emotional Challenges and Coping of Junior Palliative Physicians Through Cinematic Reflection

Abstract

Background: There has been little research on reflective tools for junior doctors, whom may have encountered challenges working in palliative care whereby grief and losses are high. This is a qualitative study aiming to firstly explore the emotional challenges of junior doctors and secondly whether the movie is an effective reflective tool. Setting/participants: 32 junior doctors rotating through the palliative care unit were recruited and underwent a combined movie screening with a focus group discussion after. Results: Emotional challenges highlighted were (1) lifting the veil of death (2) impeded call of action (3) manifesting inner fatigue. Majority found the movie relatable to their clinical practice and felt that the focus group discussion was helpful. Conclusion: Junior doctors do have certain emotional challenges during their palliative care posting. Having a movie session combined with a focus group discussion is a reasonable method to help them reflect about their challenges.

Keywords

cine medicine burnout death education hospitals attitudes death

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Braun

Clarke

(2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

Brighton

L. J.

Selman

L. E.

Bristowe

Edwards

Koffman

Evans

C. J.

(2019). Emotional labour in palliative and end-of-life care communication: A qualitative study with generalist palliative care providers. Patient Education and Counseling, 102(3), 494–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2018.10.013

Embriaco

Papazian

Kentish-Barnes

Pochard

Azoulay

(2007). Burnout syndrome among critical care healthcare workers. Current Opinion in Critical Care, 13(5), 482–488. https://doi.org/10.1097/mcc.0b013e3282efd28a

Gama

Barbosa

Vieira

(2014). Personal determinants of nurses’ burnout in end of life care. European Journal of Oncology Nursing: The Official Journal of European Oncology Nursing Society, 18(5), 527–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2014.04.005

Kadivar

Mafinejad

M. K.

Bazzaz

J. T.

Mirzazadeh

Jannat

(2018). Cinemedicine: Using movies to improve students’ understanding of psychosocial aspects of medicine. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 28, 23–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2018.02.005

Kamal

A. H.

Bull

J. H.

Wolf

S. P.

Swetz

K. M.

Shanafelt

T. D.

Ast

Kavalieratos

Sinclair

C. T.

(2020). Prevalence and predictors of burnout among hospice and palliative care clinicians in the U.S. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 59(5), e6–e13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2019.11.017

Klemenc Ketiš

Švab

(2017). Using movies in family medicine teaching: A reference to euract educational agenda. Zdravstveno Varstvo, 56(2), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.1515/sjph-2017-0013

Koh

M. Y.

Chong

P. H.

Neo

P. S.

Ong

Y. J.

Yong

W. C.

Ong

W. Y.

Shen

M. L.

Hum

A. Y.

(2015). Burnout, psychological morbidity and use of coping mechanisms among palliative care practitioners: A multi-centre cross-sectional study. Palliative Medicine, 29(7), 633–642. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216315575850

Kuhnigk

Schreiner

Reimer

Emami

Naber

Harendza

(2012). Cinemeducation in psychiatry: A seminar in undergraduate medical education combining a movie, lecture, and patient interview. Academic Psychiatry: The Journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry, 36(3), 205–210. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.10070106

10.

Meier

D. E.

Back

A. L.

Morrison

R. S.

(2001). The inner life of physicians and care of the seriously ill. JAMA, 286(23), 3007–3014. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.286.23.3007

11.

Ozcakir

Bilgel

(2014). Educating medical students about the personal meaning of terminal illness using the film, “Wit”. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 17(8), 913–917. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2013.0462

12.

Sapeta

Centeno

Belar

Arantzamendi

(2021). Adaptation and continuous learning: Integrative review of coping strategies of palliative care professionals. Palliative Medicine, 36(1), 15–29. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163211047149

13.

Soler

J. K.

Yaman

Esteva

Dobbs

Asenova

R. S.

Katic

Ozvacic

Desgranges

J. P.

Moreau

Lionis

Kotányi

Carelli

Nowak

P. R.

de Aguiar Sá Azeredo

Marklund

Churchill

Ungan

European General Practice Research Network Burnout Study Group . (2008). Burnout in European family doctors: The EGPRN study. Family Practice, 25(4), 245–265. https://doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmn038

14.

Vachon

M. L.

(1998). Caring for the caregiver in oncology and palliative care. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 14(2), 152–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-2081(98)80021-1

15.

Wang

Grassau

Lawlor

P. G.

Webber

Bush

S. H.

Gagnon

Kabir

Spilg

E. G.

(2020). Burnout and resilience among Canadian palliative care physicians. BMC Palliative Care, 19(1), 169. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-020-00677-z

16.

Weber

C. M.

Silk

(2007). Movies and medicine: An elective using film to reflect on the patient, family and illness. Family Medicine, 39(5), 317–319.

17.

West

C. P.

Dyrbye

L. N.

Shanafelt

T. D.

(2018). Physician burnout: Contributors, consequences and solutions. Journal of Internal Medicine, 283(6), 516–529. https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.12752

18.

Wong

L. P.

(2008). Focus group discussion: A tool for health and medical research. Singapore Medical Journal, 49(3), 256–260.