Sustainability, Resilience And Occupational Health- Tutorial 2

Question 1

What conditions do medical students have a higher prevalence for than the rest of the population?

Answer 1

Depression and anxiety

Question 2

What was the recommendation made to the GMC about medical students moving from uni to the foundation programme in 2014?

Answer 2

That they need to have resilience and coping techniques to help them face difficult times in their careers progress as well as clinical skills and knowledge

Question 3

Name 3 ways in which medical schools can promote wellbeing

Answer 3

1= delivering group exercises on how to deal with stress
2=providing and promoting online resources on keeping healthy
3=providing sessions and opportunities for mindfulness, meditation, physical excercise and yoga

Question 4

What is resilience in 1 sentence?

Answer 4

An emotional competence that deals with the negative effects of stress and promotes adaptation

Question 5

Is resilience a character trait or a learned behaviour?

Answer 5

Both. It requires continuous improvement

Question 6

Name 4 examples of behaviours which support resilience please

Answer 6

Building/having support networks 
Reflective  ability 
Assertiveness
Avoiding procrastination 
Developing goals
Time management 
Work life balance

Question 7

What’re the 3 categories in the sources of burnout?

Answer 7

Personal, professional and systemic

Question 8

Name 1 example of burnout in each of the three categories of burnout

Answer 8

Personal= perfectionism, denial, avoidance, micromanaging, unwilling to seek help + being too conscientious

Professional=culture of invulnerability, culture of presenteeism +blame culture/headache

Systemic=overwork, shift work, lack of oversight, chaotic work environments, lack of teamwork, fractured training

Question 9

How might burnout present in students? Give 3 examples please

Answer 9

Repeatedly failing or nearly failing 
Handing in work late
Poor attendance 
Absence due to illness
Behavioural issues 
Fitness to practice issues
Lack of engagement with the course
Poor communication with staff, peers and patients

Question 10

What may resilience lead to? Give three answers please

Answer 10

Lead to reflection
Lead to improvement
Lead to returning wiser and better

Question 11

Name 4 factors which aid in resilience

Answer 11

Intellectual interest
Self awareness and self recognition
Time management and work balance
CPDs
Support including team working 
Mentors

Question 12

What 3 other things make a difference apart from resilience when dealing with the negative effects of stress?

Answer 12

Professional attitudes
Societal attitudes
Structural changes

Question 13

Name 2 places that students can get help if they need it?

Answer 13

Counselling services and student welfare officer

Question 14

What does an occupational history seek to understand?

Answer 14

If the Px’s work has contributed to or exacerbated ill health

Question 15

What time period does an occupational history (OHx) cover?

Answer 15

Leaving school till present

Question 16

What does an OHx try to illicit?

Answer 16

If there’s been any chemical or hazard exposure eg stress or overworking or adverse working environments

Question 17

What 4 options does the doc have on a fit form?

Answer 17

Phased return to work
Altered hours
Amended duties
Workplace adaptations

Question 18

What type of patients might need got be referred to occupational health?

Answer 18

Those who are off work for longer periods of time or who have more complex needs

Question 19

When is a fit note required?

Answer 19

If the Px has been off more than 7 consecutive days, including non working days

Question 20

Is the fit note legally binding on an employer?

Answer 20

Nope

Question 21

What can OH do?

Answer 21

They can require an organisation to make any changes reasonable for the size of the organisation

Question 22

Name 3 examples of how unemployment is harmful to health please

Answer 22

Higher mortality
Poorer general health
Poorer mental health
Higher medical consultations, medical consumption and hospital admission rates

Question 23

What’s sustainability?

Answer 23

The ability to continue over a period of time

Question 24

What has the SDU (sustainability development unit) for the NHS shown?

Answer 24

That a short term, reduction in emissions is technically feasible without compromising standards of care

Question 25

What would low carbon clinical care look like? Give 3 examples please

Answer 25

Better at preventing conditions
Give greater responsibilities to Px in managing their own health
Be leaner on service design and delivery
Use the lowest carbon technologies

Question 26

How can we reduce the need to travel in a clinical setting?

Answer 26

Teleconferencing, one stop clinics where multiple things can be done in the same day, multiple clinics done on the same day so patients can attend lots in the same day