Document Type
Brief Report
Abstract
Background: Healthcare professionals in geographically distributed cancer care settings may face barriers to accessing workforce well-being resources due to geographic distance, staffing constraints, and operational demands. Disconnect & Refresh was developed to improve access to restorative wellness opportunities across community-based cancer care sites.
Methods: Disconnect & Refresh was implemented at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center across 4 Houston area locations. The initiative included BeWell Paws, virtual reality meditation, chair yoga, and creative wellness activities delivered during the workday. Participation was voluntary and tracked through employee badge scans. Participants were invited to complete an anonymous post-event survey, and open-ended responses were analyzed thematically.
Results: A total of 257 employees participated, with 69 completing post-event surveys. Activities received consistently high value ratings, with 86.7% to 100% of participants rating offerings as very or extremely valuable. BeWell Paws received the highest endorsement (97%). The overall composite program score was 4.62 on a 5-point scale, reflecting positive perceptions of restoration practices, well-being awareness, and organizational support. Findings were consistent across locations, job roles, and work arrangements. Qualitative themes included mental reset, stress relief, emotional recovery, and appreciation for organizational investment in employee well-being.
Conclusions: Disconnect & Refresh was associated with positive employee perceptions across geographically distributed cancer care sites. Leadership-supported wellness programming may be a feasible, scalable strategy to expand access to restorative well-being resources and foster connection.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.52519/ACEQI.26.2.2.a12
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Siegman A, Phillips MM, Bickel J. Creating a Culture of Well-Being By Removing Barriers to Participation in a Multi-Campus Cancer Center. Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement. 2026; 2(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.52519/ACEQI.26.2.2.a12.
Included in
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commons, Health Psychology Commons, Medical Education Commons, Oncology Commons, Quality Improvement Commons
