PhD defence A. (Ana) Stojanovic

Below is a brief summary of the dissertation:

Healthcare professionals care for others under intense pressure, often at a cost to their own well-being. How can coaching help them develop, feel better, and manage the challenges of their working lives? This thesis explores these questions through five studies involving physicians, nurses, coaches, and potential coaching participants.

An analysis of more than 2,500 coaching goals showed that physicians seek support for much more than stress. Their goals include career choices, relationships at work, personal development, health, and life outside work. The range of goals becomes broader as their careers progress. Two studies comparing coaching approaches found that people’s thinking styles and preferences mattered more consistently to how suitable they found an approach than whether their goal was concrete or broad.

Following physicians over time showed that their balance between work and personal life changed rather than remaining fixed. Control over boundaries, kindness toward themselves, and a supportive workplace were associated with better balance. Another study found improvements in physicians’ well-being and available support after coaching, although its design could not establish whether coaching caused these improvements.

A study randomly assigning 150 nurses to coaching or a waiting list provided stronger evidence: coaching reduced stress and exhaustion and increased enthusiasm for work. Further analyses explored how confidence, recovery, and well-being were connected, offering clues about how coaching might help.

Overall, these findings support coaching as a tailored developmental intervention for healthcare professionals. Sustainable thriving calls for accessible coaching embedded within supportive organizational environments that acknowledge shared responsibility for professionals’ development and well-being.