OpenLB
Open Library of Bioscience
Advanced Search
Frontiers in medicine
2025;12 1531090.

Systematic review of well-being interventions for minority healthcare workers.

Tanvi Bafna, Mansoor Malik, Mohua C Choudhury, William Hu, Christine M Weston, Kristina R Weeks, Cheryl Connors, M Haroon Burhanullah, George Everly, Henry J Michtalik, Albert W Wu
Author Information
  1. Tanvi Bafna: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  2. Mansoor Malik: Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  3. Mohua C Choudhury: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  4. William Hu: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  5. Christine M Weston: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  6. Kristina R Weeks: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  7. Cheryl Connors: Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  8. M Haroon Burhanullah: Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  9. George Everly: Department of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  10. Henry J Michtalik: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, The Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Baltimore, MD, United States.
  11. Albert W Wu: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
PMID: 40061368 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2025.1531090

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare workers' well-being is of utmost importance given persistent high rates of burnout, which also affects quality of care. Minority healthcare workers (MHCW) face unique challenges including structural racism and discrimination. There is limited data on interventions addressing the psychological well-being of MHCW. Thus, this systematic review aims to identify interventions specifically designed to support MHCW well-being, and to compare measures of well-being between minority and non-minority healthcare workers.
Methods: We searched multiple electronic databases. Two independent reviewers conducted literature screening and extraction. The Mixed Methods Assessment Tool (MMAT) or Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) criteria were utilized to assess the methodological quality of studies, based on the study design. Total scores as percentages of criteria met were used to determine overall quality as low (<40%), moderate (40-80%), or high (>80%). For conflicts, consensus was reached through discussion. Meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity of study designs.
Results: A total of 3,816 records were screened and 43 were included in the review. The majority of included studies (76.7%) were of moderate quality. There were no randomized control trials and only one study included a well-being intervention designed specifically for MHCW. Most (67.4%) were quantitative-descriptive studies that compared well-being measures between minority and non-minority identifying healthcare workers. Common themes identified were burnout, job retention, job satisfaction, discrimination, and diversity. There were conflicting results regarding burnout rates in MHCW vs non-minority workers with some studies citing protective resilience and lower burnout while others reported greater burnout due to compounding systemic factors.
Discussion: Our findings illuminate a lack of MHCW-specific well-being programs. The conflicting findings of MHCW well-being do not eliminate the need for supports among this population. Given the distinct experiences of MHCW, the development of policies surrounding diversity and inclusion, mental health services, and cultural competency should be considered. Understanding the barriers faced by MHCW can improve both well-being among the healthcare workforce and patient care.

Keywords

burnout minority healthcare workers peer support supportive interventions well-being

References

J Natl Med Assoc. 2006 Sep;98(9):1435-40 [PMID: 17019910]
Clin Med (Lond). 2021 Jul;21(4):e363-e370 [PMID: 35192479]
PLoS One. 2021 Jun 9;16(6):e0252778 [PMID: 34106959]
J Grad Med Educ. 2013 Sep;5(3):486-92 [PMID: 24404315]
Int J Evid Based Healthc. 2015 Sep;13(3):132-40 [PMID: 26360830]
J Physician Assist Educ. 2021 Jun 1;32(2):113-115 [PMID: 33966005]
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2022 Feb;9(1):257-269 [PMID: 33428158]
Arch Intern Med. 2007 Oct 22;167(19):2103-9 [PMID: 17954805]
Ann Surg Open. 2022 Jul 18;3(3):e187 [PMID: 37601153]
Ann Neurosci. 2023 Jan;30(1):54-69 [PMID: 37313338]
Isr J Health Policy Res. 2016 Jul 20;5:18 [PMID: 27441082]
BMJ Open. 2021 May 10;11(5):e050380 [PMID: 33972345]
J Nurs Manag. 2017 Apr;25(3):207-214 [PMID: 28127813]
AANA J. 2023 Aug;91(4):259-266 [PMID: 37527164]
Soc Sci Med. 2019 Dec;242:112568 [PMID: 31606695]
J Public Health Manag Pract. 2022 Sep-Oct 01;28(5):E768-E777 [PMID: 35867516]
Am J Infect Control. 2012 Aug;40(6):486-90 [PMID: 22854376]
Mayo Clin Proc. 2006 Nov;81(11):1435-42 [PMID: 17120398]
J Am Coll Health. 2023 May-Jun;71(4):1125-1133 [PMID: 34344275]
Clin Transl Sci. 2010 Aug;3(4):186-8 [PMID: 20718821]
BMJ. 2021 Mar 29;372:n71 [PMID: 33782057]
Nurs Outlook. 2023 Jan-Feb;71(1):101899 [PMID: 36623985]
BJPsych Open. 2020 Dec 16;7(1):e10 [PMID: 33323151]
JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Aug 3;3(8):e2012762 [PMID: 32766802]
J Gen Intern Med. 2021 Jul;36(Suppl 1):1-469 [PMID: 34297318]
Acad Psychiatry. 2012 Jan 1;36(1):11-6 [PMID: 22362430]
J Patient Saf. 2020 Dec;16(4):e250-e254 [PMID: 28452914]
J Natl Med Assoc. 2020 Jun;112(3):247-249 [PMID: 32336480]
J Vasc Surg. 2023 Jan;77(1):262-268 [PMID: 36245144]
Behav Sci (Basel). 2018 Oct 25;8(11): [PMID: 30366419]
J Rural Health. 2023 Jun;39(3):545-550 [PMID: 36702631]
J Med Ethics. 2010 Dec;36(12):731-5 [PMID: 21112936]
Acad Emerg Med. 2021 Sep;28(9):982-992 [PMID: 33289950]
PLoS One. 2016 Jul 08;11(7):e0159015 [PMID: 27391946]
J Natl Med Assoc. 2009 Dec;101(12):1274-82 [PMID: 20070016]
Nurs Res Pract. 2014;2014:681814 [PMID: 24804090]
Heliyon. 2023 Apr;9(4):e14835 [PMID: 37009240]
J Natl Med Assoc. 2004 Oct;96(10):1283-9, 1294 [PMID: 15540879]
J Clin Epidemiol. 2019 Jul;111:49-59.e1 [PMID: 30905698]
J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2018;29(1):556-570 [PMID: 29503317]
Hum Resour Health. 2016 Sep 23;14(1):57 [PMID: 27662831]
J Clin Transl Sci. 2021 Sep 14;5(1):e174 [PMID: 34721892]
J Nurs Adm. 2021 Jun 1;51(6):310-317 [PMID: 33989239]
Fam Pract. 2020 Nov 28;37(6):772-778 [PMID: 32700730]
J Natl Med Assoc. 2020 Dec;112(6):597-601 [PMID: 32680700]
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities. 2024 Dec;11(6):3818-3828 [PMID: 37851241]
J Emerg Med. 2018 Jul;55(1):101-109.e2 [PMID: 29759656]
Ann Fam Med. 2021 Jul-Aug;19(4):342-350 [PMID: 34264839]
J Homosex. 2018;65(5):561-578 [PMID: 28537796]
J Natl Med Assoc. 2022 Feb;114(1):104-113 [PMID: 35058066]
Curr Probl Pediatr Adolesc Health Care. 2021 Oct;51(10):101089 [PMID: 34742660]
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 12;18(2): [PMID: 33445764]
Journal Article Systematic Review

Word Cloud

Similar Articles

Cited By