Use of Death Cafes to Prevent Burnout in ICU Healthcare Employees

Systematic Trial Of PrevenTing Healthcare Employee Burnout: Using Reflection & Nourishment

Burnout affects a significant number of healthcare employees and leads to worsened mental health, increased job turnover, and patient safety events. Those caring for critically ill patients may be especially susceptible due to high patient mortality, long hours, and regular encounters with traumatic and ethical issues. Preliminary studies suggest that debriefing opportunities may reduce burnout through reflection on distressing patient events, enhancement of social support, and interprofessional collaboration. Death Cafés are a specific form of debriefing that focus on discussing death, dying, loss, and illness.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether biweekly Death Cafe group debriefing sessions can prevent burnout in ICU physicians and staff.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, or therapists working in the Intensive Care Unit and have worked for the full-time equivalent of at least 1 week in the preceding 4 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not physicians, nurses, pharmacists, or therapists
• Have worked less than the full-time equivalent of at least 1 week in the preceding 4 weeks