Psychological health and wellness and the impact of 6 weeks and 3 months supportive text messaging program (Wellness4MDs) among physicians and medical learners in Canada
A longitudinal study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22080164 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Samuel Obeng Nkrumah (Dalhousie University), Reham Shalaby (0000-0002-3717-6398, University of Alberta), Belinda Agyapong (0000-0001-7633-6529, University of Alberta), Ejemai Amaize Eboreime (0000-0001-8277-2570, Dalhousie University), Charles Kelderhouse (Dalhousie University), Vincent I O Agyapong (0000-0002-2743-0372, Dalhousie University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Pages | 1629490-1629490 |
| Publication date | 2025-09-04 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Frontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565 |
| Publisher | Frontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1629490 |
| PMID | 40977786 |
| OpenAlex | W4413999847 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 82 |
Background Physicians and medical learners face high rates of burnout, anxiety, and depression due to the demanding nature of their work. Many are reluctant to seek support because of stigma, time constraints, and limited access to care. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based supportive SMS messaging offers a promising, scalable alternative. Objective This study evaluates the impact of Wellness4MDs, a CBT-based supportive messaging program, on the psychological health and well-being of physicians and medical learners in Canada. Methods Participants subscribed to the Wellness4MDs program and received daily supportive SMS messages for 3 months. Standardized self-rated web-based questionnaires assessing depression, anxiety, burnout symptoms were collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3 months using the PHQ-9, GAD-7, MBI, and WHO-5. Subscribers’ satisfaction was measured using an online, self-developed questionnaire adapted from tools previously employed to assess similar programs. Results A total of 806 subscribers participated, with 226 completing the baseline survey. 66 participants completed surveys at all follow-up points, and 53 completed both baseline and at least one follow-up survey. At the three-month follow-up, there were statistically significant reductions in mean scores for emotional exhaustion (EE) and anxiety symptoms (GAD-7), with reduction from baseline of 16.1% ( t = 2.86, p = 0.01) and 15.5% ( t = 2.05, p = 0.05) with effect sizes of 0.4 and 0.3 respectively, indicating moderate effects. These reductions remained statistically significant when missing data were imputed using the last observation carried forward (LOCF) method. However, no significant changes were observed on the PHQ-9 scale. The overall mean satisfaction score for the Wellness4MDs program was 7.98 (SD = 2.06). Most participants reported that the messages helped them cope with stress (72.7%), anxiety (70.5%), depression (51.1%), and loneliness (42.0%). Additionally, 71.6% felt more connected to a support system, and 78.4% reported improved overall mental well-being. Conclusion Wellness4MDs demonstrated effectiveness in reducing emotional exhaustion and anxiety symptoms. Its high user satisfaction, accessibility, and low-cost delivery model make it a promising complement to traditional mental health services for healthcare professionals
Family medicine · Text messaging · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Medicine · Mobile Health and mHealth Applications · Psychology
Prevalence of Burnout Among Physicians
Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care
The Global Prevalence of Anxiety Among Medical Students
Social Foundations of Thought and Action
Prevalence of Depression and Depressive Symptoms Among Resident Physicians
Mental health problems and social media exposure during Covid-19 outbreak
Burnout and Medical Errors Among American Surgeons
Mental health services in Canada
Accuracy of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for screening to detect major depression
Resources for mental health
Controlled Interventions to Reduce Burnout in Physicians
Interventions to prevent and reduce physician burnout
Burnout and Satisfaction With Work-Life Balance Among US Physicians Relative to the General US Population
Understanding the burnout experience
The broaden–and–build theory of positive emotions
Stress, appraisal, and coping
The WHO-5 Well-Being Index
Research electronic data capture (Redcap)—A metadata-driven methodology and workflow process for providing translational research informatics support
A Brief Measure for Assessing Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The PHQ-9
Feasibility and Acceptability of a Culturally- and Linguistically-Adapted Smoking Cessation Text Messaging Intervention for Latino Smokers
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A preliminary comparison of the efficacy of online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) stress management interventions for social and healthcare workers
Positive Psychology Progress
WHO World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Project
| Highly cited | No |
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