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Targeted Interventions to Improve Resident Well-being

Purpose: To quantify and compare physician well-being and incidence of burnout across residency programs at our institution, emphasizing program-specific and resident-driven interventions

Background: As the national conversation regarding physician well-being evolves, the importance of addressing physician burnout has come to the forefront. Our institution identified moderate levels of burnout across all residency programs, and thus initiated institution-wide efforts. Literature suggests utilizing organization-wide and targeted interventions together has the most significant impact on improving well-being and reducing burnout.

Methods: A Modified Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) survey is distributed annually to all residents at our institution. Results from 2015-2018 were analyzed to track changes in burnout scores. All residents participated in institution-wide interventions. Some departments initiated additional resident-determined program-specific interventions.

Results: Mean MBI scores qualified for moderate burnout for all programs across all years. Most programs utilizing institution-wide interventions demonstrated no change in burnout scores; while some, specifically OB/GYN, saw a statistically significant increase in burnout scores (p<0.001). Departments with program-specific interventions demonstrated decreased scores during the same time period.

Discussions: Residency programs utilizing targeted interventions demonstrated marked improvement in burnout scores.  Amongst those without targeted interventions, OB/GYN demonstrated the largest increase in burnout, suggesting differing etiologies of burnout for individual programs, with OB/GYN being uniquely susceptible. We plan to combat this by utilizing a guided focus group of OB/GYN residents to identify drivers of burnout and specific interventions addressing these factors, using the Mayo Well-Being Index to track anticipated improvement. Continued work in evidence-based strategies addressing the challenge of burnout will ultimately produce more engaged physicians.

Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2019, Resident, Faculty, Osteopathic Faculty, Residency Director, Residency Coordinator, Professionalism, Systems-Based Practice & Improvement, GME,