Abstract:

Objective

To explore the application of Balint group activities within a team learning framework for enhancing the training of specialist physicians.

Methods

Physicians who received specialized training at Peking University Third Hospital from May 2019 to October 2022 were enrolled as subjects. Balint group activities were conducted once a month for a total of 6 months in a team learning mode，leading to the gradual development and refinement of a comprehensive medical record database for Balint group activities. The JSE-HP Scale and SEGUE Scale were used to evaluate the changes in empathy and communication abilities after the activities. Paired t-tests were used to compare the differences before and after training for specialized physicians.

Results

The total score of the JSE-HP scale increased significantly after participating in the Balint group activity in team learning mode （105.36±6.27） compared to before participating in the group activity （89.43±5.60）， with the difference statistically significant （t=-8.795，P＜0.001）. Similarly， the total score of the SEGUE scale increased significantly after participating in the Balint group activity in team learning mode （22.14±1.61） compared to before participating in the group activity （20.57±1.70）， with the difference also being statistically significant （t=-7.778， P＜0.001）.

Conclusion

Incorporating Balint group activities in team learning mode can improve empathy and communication skills， which is advantageous for their professional development.

Key words: Team-based learning, Balint group, JSE-HP scale, SEGUE scale