Literature Collection

Physicians and advanced practice providers often lack structured opportunities to develop personal and professional skills, critical for reducing burnout and enhancing job satisfaction. To address this, Brown Medicine's Division of General Internal Medicine introduced the Personal Development Empowerment Series, a cost- effective faculty development initiative integrated into the existing schedule. The series includes sessions that focus on topics like imposter syndrome, assertiveness, and time management, blending education with interactive activities to promote practical application. Facilitated by psychologists and motivated peers, the lectures have been well received, with faculty appreciating its emphasis on reflection and cognitive-behavioral strategies. This replicable initiative fosters a supportive work culture, boosts morale, and highlights the importance of personal growth. This program demonstrates that affordable, home-grown interventions can significantly impact well-being and organizational culture.

OBJECTIVES: Primary care behavioral health (PCBH) is a patient care model in which a behavioral health consultant (BHC) works alongside the primary care provider to address behavioral components of health conditions. PCBH is well received in the primary care setting; however, little is known about acceptability of the service among prenatal patients. The study was designed to explore the acceptability of PCBH among pregnant patients in a resident obstetrics and gynecology clinic. METHODS: A survey designed to assess different components of acceptability was administered to eligible pregnant patients who received prenatal care at the resident obstetrics and gynecology clinic. RESULTS: The majority of patients wanted to receive education on pregnancy-relevant topics from the BHC: healthy weight gain (68.4%), healthy eating (70.4%), healthy exercise (73.5%), and mood disorders (63.3%). The majority of participants wanted help from the BHC in managing coexisting conditions affecting pregnancy: stress (63.3%), depression (75.5%), or anxiety (73%). The majority of patients (55.6%) preferred to work with a BHC for mental health concerns rather than an outside psychiatrist or counselor. PCBH service was perceived to be easy to understand (78%). Barriers to engaging in the PCBH service included time (41.4%), lack of perceived need (13.8%), unavailability (6.9%), and others (13.8%). Despite the perceived benefit, there was an implication of stigma among prenatal patients seeking PCBH or mental health care. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the PCBH model had high acceptability among a prenatal care population in a resident obstetrics and gynecology clinic and offers potential to improve prenatal outcomes.