PS6-05: QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF A WELLBEING AND RESILIENCY PROGRAM FOR GENERAL SURGERY RESIDENTS: ARE WE MAKING AN IMPACT?
Elinora T Price, MPH1, Catherine R Coverley, MD, MEd2, Amanda K Arrington, MD1, Alanna Aullery1, Valentine N Nfonsam, MD1, Lilah Morris-Wiseman, MD1, Taylor S Riall, MD, PhD1; 1University of Arizona, Department of Surgery, 2New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital Center
Background/Objectives: After implementing a formal resident wellbeing and resiliency program (RWR) in our surgery residency, we performed in-depth qualitative interviews to understand residents’ perceptions of: 1) the essential elements for success, 2) impact and benefits, and 3) feedback on desired changes to the program.
Methods: Our RWR is designed to address mental, physical, and social aspects of resident wellbeing through monthly interactive sessions. All general surgery residents participated in RWR; content is delivered during residents’ protected educational time. We used purposeful selection to maximize diversity in recruiting residents who had participated in RWR for at least one year; recruitment continued until themes were saturated. We conducted individual semi-structured interviews: residents were asked for their feedback to understand the value, benefits, and drawbacks of RWR to better tailor the program to their needs. Interviews and transcription were conducted by research staff who had no prior professional relationship with the participants.
Results: Eleven residents were interviewed, including 2 from each residency year. Key structural elements of success for RWR included a committed leader, a receptive department culture, occurrence during protected time, and interactive sessions that taught applicable real-life skills (goal setting, nutrition and fitness, mindfulness, work-life integration). Residents reported that RWR improved communication, team building, and sense of community; taught practical skills to help improve their work-life integration, time management, and emotional intelligence; and reflected the department leadership’s commitment to wellbeing. Residents felt some sessions lacked activities that were relevant to their daily life. Residents suggested more faculty-level involvement to promote departmental use of the common language/models. Some residents were skeptical of the benefit of time spent learning non-technical skills; some wanted more emphasis placed on accountability to patients and work.
Conclusions: Qualitative assessment of a novel resident wellbeing program demonstrates reported benefits that reflect the intent of the program. Residents most benefited from sessions that taught practical skills to help them navigate their day-to-day lives. Engagement of the department leadership is essential to the success of the program, as is ongoing feedback and modification to ensure that program is tailored to the needs of residents.