Purpose: An intervention for obstetrics residents that cultivates mindfulness, meaning, and connection with patients on labor and delivery through a physical memento.
Background: Ob/Gyn residents are at high risk of burnout. Although the delivery of a child is a coveted opportunity to cultivate wonder and professional satisfaction, it is threatened by volume and documentation demands. Our project was funded by the ACGME Back to Bedside Initiative.
Methods: Thirty residents were encouraged to return to the patient’s bedside after delivery to gather for a group polaroid photo. Patients, residents, and RNs were then provided with a copy as a keepsake. Resident wellness was assessed via RedCAP administration of the validated Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index, pre and post.
Results: Seventeen residents participated with an average of 8.4 polaroids taken over their labor block. After the intervention, there was a significant improvement in scores indicating personal fulfillment (p=0.02) and personal disengagement (p< 0.001). Residents scored significantly higher on connectedness with patients post-intervention. There were no significant differences in worker exhaustion. Logistic regression showed no dose-dependent relationship between outcomes and the number of polaroids, although residents with more polaroids were more likely to report that patients would remember their names, approaching significance (beta=0.05, p=0.07).
Discussions: The Postpartum Polaroid Project offers a novel approach to address resident burnout on labor and delivery. Our pilot data suggests that this is a simple, feasible intervention to increase professional satisfaction as measured by the Stanford Professional Fulfillment Index.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2021, Student, Resident, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Residency Director, Patient Care, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, GME, Quality & Safety, General Ob-Gyn,
Garbarino Abigail, MD, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Kelly Zafman, MD; Catherine Salva, MD
