Mental health and work-related wellbeing of U.S. obstetrician-gynecologists in a shifting policy climate

PROJECT ABSTRACT
U.S. physicians are at risk for poor mental health and work-related wellbeing. Obstetrician-
gynecologists (OB-GYNs) are at particularly high risk due to recent changes and uncertainty in
state-level reproductive health policies. Associated changes in the work environment may lead
to burnout, poor mental health, and job turnover, which could have major health consequences
for OB-GYNs and their patients. Our scientific premise is that the key to improving OB-
GYNs' mental health and work-related wellbeing in a shifting policy climate is to focus on
the role of organizational factors in buffering the impact of policy stressors. Accordingly,
there is an urgent need to (1) better understand the relationships between state policy
environment, work-related stressors, and mental health and work-related wellbeing, and (2)
identify organizational-level factors that support OB-GYNs' health and wellbeing. Leveraging our
interdisciplinary team's expertise in workplace health and wellbeing, experience with survey
methods and policy analysis, and our preliminary data, we propose a convergent mixed-
methods study of OB-GYNs from across the U.S. We will administer a quantitative survey to
800-900 OB-GYNs to (1) test whether OB-GYNs' mental health, work-related wellbeing, and
turnover intention vary by policy context, and (2) evaluate the nature of the relationship between
policy context, work experiences, and mental health and work-related wellbeing (Aim 1). We will
conduct qualitative semi-structured interviews with 80 OB-GYNs from a range of state policy
climates. We will then use mixed methods to synthesize survey and interview findings about the
contributions of specific organizational policies and practices to OB-GYN mental health and
work-related wellbeing, within and across policy contexts (Aim 2). Finally, we will draw on Aim 1-
2 findings and solicit input from key informant interviews (n=10) to develop and disseminate
organizational-level resources to support OB-GYNs' mental health and work-related wellbeing
(Aim 3, r2p). We will engage an interdisciplinary expert advisory board to inform the design,
analysis, and dissemination. Our long-term goal is to protect and promote the work-related
wellbeing of the healthcare workforce. By generating novel data from a national sample of
OB-GYNs, this study will inform evidence-based recommendations and interventions to support
OB-GYN mental health and work-related wellbeing. Its impacts support NIOSH's Total Worker
Health® and Healthcare Worker Mental Health Initiatives, the NORA Healthcare and Social
Assistance sector, and NORA's cross-sector program in Healthy Work Design and Wellbeing.

Grant Number: 5R01OH012664-02
NIH Institute/Center: ALLCDC
Principal Investigator: Mara Buchbinder