Doctors' Health Advisory Service Western Australia

The Doctors Health Advisory Service Western Australia (DHASWA) is an independent not for profit association that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of doctors and medical students in Western Australia (WA)

Background

The Doctors’ Health Advisory Service of Western Australia (DHASWA) became a formal Association in November 2016.  It was formerly known as “Colleague of First Contact” which was established as an independent entity in the 1980s and renamed DHASWA in 2011. The main service provided by DHASWA was a 24/7 advice line for doctors and medical students, staffed by a panel of experienced GPs.  Since 2016 DHASWA has received funding from the Medical Board of Australia (MBA), to help support and expand its services.

DHASWA is exempt from the Mandatory Reporting requirements of MBA.

Objectives

The purpose of DHASWA is to improve “the health and wellbeing of the medical profession in the public interest for the benefit of the community”. Its main objectives are:

  1. Providing confidential support to medical practitioners including medical students concerning their personal health problems.
  2. Promoting health education and training of medical practitioners to the medical profession including the promotion of self-care;
  3. Promoting the education and training of medical practitioners who treat medical practitioners;
  4. Promoting the development of resources to assist in the development, implementation and promotion of medical practitioner’s health services.
  5. Promoting, in the public interest, measures to assist medical practitioners in maintaining their health and wellbeing;
  6. Promoting a healthy lifestyle and healthy workplace for medical practitioners;
  7. Working in collaboration with the Medical Benevolent Association WA to meet common goals;
  8. Establishing and promoting dedicated health networks to support medical practitioners;
  9. Promoting research into medical practitioners’ health and cooperate with learned colleges, universities and professional medical organisations to meet shared objectives;
  10. Promoting measures to assist medical practitioners to manage their health and wellbeing, both at work and away from work, including liaison with media, hospital and health services, regulatory authorities, medical defence organisations, learned colleges, universities, professional medical organisations and other training organisations.

Advisory Group

Dr Sarah Newman

Secretary & Assistant Director

Dr Helen Wilcox (she/her)

Member & Medical Director

Dr Davinder Hans

Psychiatry Advisor

Special Interest Portfolios

Dr Grace Haynes

Aboriginal Doctors Health

Dr Ashwita Siri Vanga (she/her)

International Medical Graduate Wellbeing

Rahil Ajmera

Medical Student Representative

Dr Lewis Mackinnon (he/him)

Senior International Medical Graduate Representative

Doctors’ Health

There is a growing body of evidence which shows that doctors face unique barriers to accessing health care and often do not have a regular treating doctor, and are at greater risk of mental health issues and substance use problems. The Doctor’s Health Advisory Service Western Australia (DHASWA) is experienced in the unique health needs of doctors, and has important skills in the area of doctor-patient care.

As a group, doctors generally have a greater than average level of physical health than the general population and are less likely so suffer from life-style related illnesses (Australian Medical Association (AMA), 2011). However, doctors also experience a higher level of psychological distress, similar or higher rates of mental illnesses (including depression and anxiety) and a higher likelihood of suicidal ideation than the general population and other professionals (3.4% vs. 2.6% vs. 0.7%, respectively) (Beyondblue, 2013, p2-4).

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Research has shown that only 30-40% of doctors have their own general practitioner (Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP), 2013). Doctors who do not have their own GP are likely to self- diagnose, self-treat and self-prescribe (RACP, 2013) and may seek informal professional input from a colleague, rather than a proper consultation with a treating doctor (RACP, 2013). These practices, as well as failure to connect with other appropriate health professionals or services can lead to poorer health outcomes in this group (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), 2011).

The reasons for doctors not accessing appropriate health care are varied, and include: concerns of stigma and lack of confidentiality; fear regarding mandatory notification; damage to career progression; embarrassment, and constraints on time and access (AMA, 2011).

It has been suggested that while doctors may struggle to be seen as a ‘patient’, they also have difficulty treating other doctors as patients (RACP, 2013). However, research has shown that doctors who practice healthy lifestyle habits are more likely to effectively teach healthy habits to their patients (AMA, 2011) which may also include other doctors!

It is important that doctors are encouraged to have their own treating doctor, to avoid the pitfalls mentioned above, and doctor-patients need to be treated in the same way as any other patient by their treating medical professional (RACGP, 2016). This allows doctor-patients to feel validated in seeking health care, and ensures that receive all the information they need to be active participants in their care.

There is growing understanding that a specific skill set can be taught to help doctors treat other doctors more effectively (RACP, 2013) and an acknowledgement that professional medical culture needs to support the care of doctor-patients without judgement.

DHASWA is committed to providing patient centred care suitable to doctor-patients, and all DHASWA doctors are experienced in the care of doctor-patients. For more information or to speak to one of our doctors, visit our Contact Us page

REFERENCES

Australian Medical Association (2011) AMA Position Statement on Health and Wellbeing of Doctors and Medical Students – 2011. Retrieved from https://ama.com.au/position-statement/health-and-wellbeing-doctors-and-medical-students-2011

Beyondblue (2013) National Mental Health Survey of Doctors and Medical Students. Retrieved from https://www.beyondblue.org.au/docs/default-source/research-project-files/bl1132-report—nmhdmss-full-report_web

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (2011). Doctors’ Health. Retrieved from http://curriculum.racgp.org.au/statements/doctors-health/

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (2016) D16- Doctors’ health contextual unit. Retrieved from https://www.racgp.org.au/Education/Curriculum/Doctors%E2%80%99-health

Royal Australian College of Physicians (2013) Health of Doctors Position Statement. Retrieved from https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default-source/advocacy-library/pa-pos-health-of-doctors-2013.pdf