Empowering Doctors in Balint Groups

Shorer, Yuval; Rabin, Stanley; Maoz, Benjamin; Nadav, Meir; Shiber, A.

doi:10.1055/s-2007-981347

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…it is extremely difficult to maintain emotional vigor, enthusiasm and joy in life. Health and social care professionals, like everyone else, need to look after their physical, mental and emotional health, but they often do not [58]. The goals of the group meetings are for them to improve their recognition and understanding of their own emotional reactions, which will help them develop strategies to prevent job burnout syndrome [59].…”

Section: балинт групни тренинг -теорија и праксаmentioning

confidence: 99%

Balint group training: Theory and practice

Šapić¹

2023

Glas javnog zdr

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With regard to the many years of cooperation between the Balint Society of Serbia and the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade (which, in recent years, has been realized through a promotional Balint workshop for GP residents), we believe that the application of the Balint method in continuous education would contribute to the improvement of doctors' professional performance. Balint education has shown excellent results for physicians of all medical specialties as well as for other healthcare professionals and associates (psychologists, special pedagogues, social workers, special education teachers, nurses) who want to improve their relationships with health care users, and it is especially helpful in the acquisition of skills necessary for working with "problem clients" as well as in the prevention of job burnout syndrome in healthcare professionals. The primary objective of this paper was to offer and present arguments on the importance of educational programs applying the Balint methodology, which is focused on the client-therapist relationship, and founded on psychoanalytic ideas. The secondary objective was to enhance awareness of the exceptional importance of the client-therapist relationship, which is of major therapeutic interest and essential to any treatment, and through participation and work in Balint groups, group members learn to understand and skillfully utilize the professional client/patient relationship. With its specific goals and methods, the education is beneficial to therapists, clients as well as health care institutions. A literature review was carried out regarding the previously published studies on the development, growth, and work dynamics of Balint groups and therapists i.e., counselors. Special attention was given to the discussions included in these studies, pertaining to the consequences of weaknesses, but also of strengths in the performance of Balint therapists. Attention was also paid to the issues related to the insufficient number of Balint groups and therapists that apply this practice in education, as well as to the support and assistance they are provided in regard to their work. The efficiency of Balint groups was also considered, including their contribution published in the literature, in addition to recommendations for overcoming this problem in the future. The founding father of this method, Michael Balint, a psychiatrist, started a training program for general practitioners (family physicians) more than 70 years ago, since he believed that they were specially overworked and burdened with a large number of patients and that improving doctors' knowledge in the field of psychology would facilitate their work. Later, this training program expanded, becoming more and more present in other branches of medicine. Today, Balint education is an integral part of medical studies and specialist training in psychiatry, gynecology, endocrinology, and family medicine in many European countries. Balint groups are intended for practitioners who professionally recognize the value of developing and deepening an empathic emotional relationship with their clients. These groups help doctors to reach a better understanding of a patient's overall condition, which in turn enhances the doctor's creative capacities to engage in the therapeutic process. In addition, the group process leads to a reduction in professional isolation that prevails among healthcare workers, contributing to the job burnout syndrome. Balint education enables a better connection between practitioners from different disciplines participating in the treatment. Thus, the Balint group members gain experience on the importance of alliance and cooperation in the treatment of their patients. Balint groups usually meet twice a month, during the academic year, giving participants the opportunity to become aware of what prevents them from having a better relationship with their clients as well as to find authentic answers that will reduce misunderstandings. Numerous studies have confirmed the importance of empathic relationships with clients in the provision of effective health care, and professionals also consider such relationships essential to their work. Balint groups are focused on reaching a better understanding through various associations, guided by a Balint leader, rather than on presenting ready-made solutions to a problem, which makes them applicable to a myriad of treatment situations.

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Section: балинт групни тренинг -теорија и праксаmentioning

confidence: 99%

Balint group training: Theory and practice

Šapić¹

2023

Glas javnog zdr

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“…Na Suécia, observou-se que nos médicos de atenção primária que frequentavam grupos Balint havia mais sentimentos positivos relativos ao trabalho e aos pacientes, menor carga de estresse e maior competência no cuidado de pessoas com "problemas psicossomáticos" (usando o termo no sentido de queixas inexplicáveis ou inespecíficas sob a ótica biomédica), em comparação aos médicos que não frequentavam os grupos (43). Além disso, os grupos Balint parecem encorajar os médicos a serem mais próativos na vida profissional (46).…”

Section: Médicos De Família E Grupos Balintunclassified

Grupos Balint e o processo de aprendizagem em medicina

Dattoli¹,

Tannus²

2018

B. Curso Med. UFSC

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Os grupos Balint são uma ferramenta clínica importante no cotidiano dos profissionais da saúde, principalmente dos médicos. Surgiu com o objetivo de ajudar médicos generalistas a alcançar uma melhor compreensão do que foi chamado de "aspecto psicológico" da prática médica geral, sendo observada considerável mudança em suas ideias e atitudes nas relações interpessoais com a utilização destes grupos. Na formação médica, todavia, o processo de aprendizagem frequentemente é baseado em protocolos clínicos centrados nas doenças, algo que costuma enfraquecer a empatia e a própria relação médico-paciente. Balint criou, através dos grupos que hoje levam seu nome, uma forma de resgatar o ensino da medicina centrada na pessoa. Estudantes e médicos (incluindo residentes) que participam de grupos Balint geralmente desenvolvem maiores habilidades no tocante à empatia e aos relacionamentos interpessoais; ademais, sofrem menos de “burnout”. Portanto, motivá-los a envolverem-se com a ferramenta desenvolvida por Balint é de suma importância para qualificar sua formação profissional, favorecendo o trabalho com pacientes na perspectiva da integralidade.

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“…Balint group aims to change the uncertainty, confusion, and difficulty of perception, understanding, and meaning in the relationship between the caregiver and patient, leading to a more potent therapeutic alliance (6). It also empowers physicians to take the initiative in their profession when there is uncertainty or no clear answer (7). It helps them explore their interpersonal abilities and limitations and perceive and strengthen blind spots in dealing with patients (8).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Online Balint Group and Pharmacotherapy on COVID-19 Anxiety in Iranian Healthcare Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Shahini

Gholamzad

Salimi

et al. 2022

Iran J Psychiatry Behav Sci

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Background: Anxiety persists following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has caused dysfunction. Objectives: We compared the effect of the online Balint group and pharmacotherapy on COVID-19-induced anxiety in Iranian healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods: In the current clinical trial in the north of Iran in 2021, the participants were randomly assigned to two groups, including the Balint group (eight 60-minute online sessions) and the pharmacotherapy group (sertraline), following a phone screening procedure by a psychiatrist. The groups filled out two questionnaires, namely the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale, at baseline and after the intervention (fourth week). Results: Forty-five HCWs were assessed. There was a significant difference in total anxiety score and also in sub-component in each group (P ≤ 0.001). No significant differences were observed regarding the effectiveness of both interventions in anxiety (P = 0.52); however, the pharmacotherapy interventions significantly affected the resilience and related subscales (P ≤ 0.05). The domain of spiritual influences significantly increased in the pharmacotherapy group (P = 0.031). Conclusions: Balint group and pharmacotherapy can improve COVID-19-induced anxiety and boost resilience in HCWs.

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Empowering Doctors in Balint Groups

Cited by 3 publications

References 9 publications

Balint group training: Theory and practice

Balint group training: Theory and practice

Grupos Balint e o processo de aprendizagem em medicina

Effect of Online Balint Group and Pharmacotherapy on COVID-19 Anxiety in Iranian Healthcare Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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