Purpose: To identify resident priorities during allotted “wellness” days and evaluate the perceived importance of scheduled wellness time in residency.
Background: There has been a national push to promote resident wellness as burnout rates continue to remain high. Various efforts have been trialed, ranging from a 12-week didactic curriculum (Aggarwal) to training designed to identify signs and symptoms of burnout (Tran) to group workout sessions (Spiotta), often demonstrating short term improvements in wellness-related measures. For the past 2 years, in an effort to promote wellness, our schedule has included two wellness days per year intended to allow residents to catch up on health maintenance, practice self-care, etc.
Methods: We administered a de-identified survey to our residency program inquiring about the use of allocated wellness time. This study was voluntary and deemed IRB-exempt.
Results: We received 16 responses to our survey, representing each member of our residency program of the 2019-2020 academic year. A wide array of activities was performed, including doctor or dentist appointments, haircuts, vehicle maintenance, massages, pedicures, cooking, exercise, miscellaneous errands, and resting. Importance of wellness days, ranked on a scale of 1-5, averaged 4.5.
Discussions: Residents were most likely to use their allocated time to see a doctor, exercise, engage in self-care activities, and relax and least likely to engage in work-related activities or research. Wellness days were perceived as highly important and most respondents felt as though these days supported physical (81%) and emotional (68%) aspects of wellness as well as work-life balance (75%).
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2021, Resident, Faculty, Residency Director, Residency Coordinator, Systems-Based Practice & Improvement, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, GME,
Ashley Moon, MD, University of Virginia Health System; Margot Gurganus, MD, MPH
