101 Introducing Balint groups in a hospice setting

<h3>Introduction</h3> Balint groups were first formed to provide clinicians with a safe, structured environment for group reflection (Balint, M. 1955). Groups aim to explore the emotions of physicians and allow reflection on patient experiences and improve doctor-patient relationships. This promotes patient-centred care and helps to avoid compassionate burnout (Benson, J and Magraith, K. 2005). Our aims were to see if running Balint groups could help improve the wellbeing and understanding of patient experience in our hospice doctors. <h3>Methods</h3> At Saint Michael’s Hospice, we started running weekly Balint groups for our doctors over six weeks. Before starting, each doctor at the hospice filled out a questionnaire outlining their previous knowledge and experience with Balint groups. We then ran a group each week, with between four and six hospice doctors. After this, follow-up questionnaires were filled out and the results were then analysed. <h3>Results</h3> Prior to this project, only one of six doctors had ever participated in a Balint group before, and only two were aware of the purpose of Balint groups. Half the doctors described having emotional difficulty at work multiple times a week, and the other half multiple times per month. After participating in the Balint groups, all the doctors agreed that they had an improved understanding of their patient perspective, and of the doctor-patient relationship. All six doctors would recommend Balint groups to their colleagues. The free-text feedback left about the groups were: ‘Really helpful and enlightening’, ‘Great sessions’ and ‘useful group’. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Our results show that Balint groups are a useful but underused tool, which can help improve the wellbeing and reflective practice of palliative doctors. The universally positive feedback for the groups demonstrates the potential for Balint groups to be used as a valuable and affordable tool to help continue good quality patient care and avoid compassionate burnout in hospice doctors.