Healing Through Knowledge: The Impact of Medical Conferences on Doctors’ Mental Health and Professional Well- being Healing Through Knowledge, Medical Conferences, and Professional Well- being
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Abstract
The medical profession is worldwide known as extremely stressful, with doctors facing significant risks to their mental, emotional, and physical well-being, leading to high rates of exhaustion. This study explores the potential of medical conferences to serve as a mediation to support doctors' mental health and professional well-being. A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted among 167 doctors attending two professional medical conferences. Data were collected using a survey comprising demographic questions, validated psychological scales (GAD-7 for anxiety and WHO-5 for well-being), and conference-specific perception issues. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. The response rate was 60–80%. Results indicated that participants, on average, experienced mild anxiety (mean GAD-7 score: ≈6–9) and moderate well-being (mean WHO-5 score: ≈50–65). A strong positive perception of the conferences' benefits was reported (mean score: ≈3.8–4.3 on a 5-point Likert scale), with 60–75% of respondents agreeing that attendance reduced professional stress and increased motivation. Higher perceived benefit was significantly correlated with higher well-being scores (r ≈ 0.35–0.50, p < 0.01). Active networking and session participation were associated with lower anxiety scores. Regular conference attendees also reported better well-being and lower anxiety than first-time attendees. In Conclusion, the results of the current study showed that participation in medical conferences is positively associated with reduced anxiety, decreased professional stress, and improved psychological well-being among doctors. These events provide a valuable platform for emotional renewal, peer support, and professional development, serving as a complementary strategy to mitigate burnout and enhance job satisfaction in the medical workforce.E
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