Relational Leadership Initiative: Assessing Implementation and Learning Outcomes of an Interprofessional, Cross-Generational Collaborative

Title: Relational Leadership Initiative: Assessing Implementation and Learning Outcomes of an Interprofessional, Cross-Generational Collaborative

Objective:

Determine the effects of the Relational Leadership Initiative (RLI) on participants’ sense of well-being and psychological sense of community.

Methods:

The Relational Leadership Initiative is an interprofessional, cross-generational learning collaborative at the University of Utah focused on enhancing self-awareness, teamwork, coaching and leading change. The three-month curriculum is delivered through large group didactics, small group activities, and self-reflection. Cohort participants complete the Well-Being Index (WBI) and the Psychological Sense of Community (PSOC) instruments at baseline, immediately post-course, and six-months post-course completion to assess multiple dimensions of distress and includes questions about satisfaction with work-life integration and meaning in work.

Results:

The Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 RLI Cohorts consisted of 47 participants aged 24-58 years old with the majority being Caucasian (80%) and female (78%) from a variety of professions and backgrounds including nursing, pharmacy, medicine, health sciences research and administration. Of the total cohorts, 44 participants completed both surveys at baseline and 13 completed both surveys immediately after the course.

For both cohort, the overall averages for baseline to post-course evaluations of the WBI survey indicates a 35.5% reduction in burnout from work, 27.5% reduction in worrying that work is hardening participants emotionally, and 26% reduction in feeling depressed/hopeless. The baseline to 6-month post-course evaluation of the WBI survey indicates a 15.5% reduction in burnout from work and 24% reduction in worrying that work is hardening participants emotionally. Program features that were rated as most impactful by attendees include: psychological safety and trust created, sense of community created in small groups, opportunity for individual and group reflection, and trainers and facilitators modeling vulnerability and program skills.

Conclusion:

RLI improved well-being and sense of community scores for the cohort of attendees.  Continued assessment is needed to determine the long-term impact of RLI participation on participants.