Self care resources for palliative care
Hill Jones, Sally A self-care plan for hospice workers. Am J Hospice and Pall Med 2005; 22, 125-128.
This excellent article gives a systematic approach to self care for palliative care teams.
The End-of-Life Palliative Education Resource Center (EPERC) has published four Fast Fact handouts about health professional burnout:
For cancer professionals and others dealing with end of life issues
The Oncologist is a journal which is available online, and which regularly publishes multidisciplinary conversations about psychosocial and ethical aspects of care, entitled the Schwartz Center Rounds. Many of these topics reflect on the challenges for practitioners of working in this area.
For nurses
Newton J, Waters V., Community palliative care clinical nurse specialists' descriptions of stress in their work. International Journal of Palliative Nursing 2001;11:531-540.
White K, Wilkes L, Cooper K, Barbato M.The impact of unrelieved patient suffering on palliative care nurses Int J Palliat Nurs. 2004 Sep;10(9):438-44
Sherman D W., Nurse’s Stress and Burnout. AJN 2004; 104, 48-56.
For medical practitioners
The AMA Doctors’ Health Database provides a state-by-state listing of resources for medical practitioners.
Clode D, Boldero J, Keeping the Doctor Alive: a self-care guidebook for medical practitioners. 2005. RACGP, Melbourne. This is a guidebook which was distributed free to medical practitioners in 2006. It is a comprehensive, evidence based resource which is designed to be used as part of a peer support program or for independent reflection. To order a copy, contact the Victorian office of the RACGP.
General
The Medical Journal of Australia regularly publishes research and commentary related to self-care issues for doctors. The following articles are of interest and can be accessed directly via these links:
Bruce CT, Sanger MM,Thomas PS, Petkus JR,Yates DH Factors affecting female or male consultant stress in an Australian teaching hospital MJA 2003; 179 (1): 174-175
Kilmartin MR, Newell CJ Line MA The balancing act: key issues in the lives of women general practitioners in Australia MJA 2002 177 (2): 87-89
Lake FR, Ryan G Teaching on the run tips 11: the junior doctor in difficulty MJA 2005; 183 (9): 475-476
Riley GJ Understanding the stresses and strains of being a doctor MJA 2004; 181 (7): 350-353
Schattner P, Davidson S,Serry N Doctors’ health and wellbeing: taking up the challenge in Australia MJA 2004; 181 (7): 348-349
Schattner PL Coman GJ The stress of metropolitan general practice MJA 1998; 169: 133-137
Shadbolt NE Attitudes to healthcare and self-care among junior medical officers: a preliminary report MJA 2002 177 (1 Suppl): S19-S20
Van Der Weyden MB Primum non nocere — to yourself MJA 2006; 184 (2): 49 Warhaft N The Victorian Doctors Health Program: the first 3 years MJA 2004; 181 (7): 376-379
Willcock SM, Daly MG, Tennant CC, Allard BJ Burnout and psychiatric morbidity in new medical graduates MJA 2004; 181 (7): 357-360
This page was created on 3 May 2006 and is due for review on May 2008.
This page is currently under review.
Last updated 26 May 2008