TY - JOUR
T1 - Promoting Surgical Resident Well-being Through Therapist-Facilitated Discussion Groups
T2 - A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
AU - Zárate Rodriguez, Jorge G.
AU - Naaseh, Ariana
AU - Caldwell, Katharine E.
AU - Hedge, Jaclynne
AU - Cabral, Raquel R.
AU - Duncan, Jennifer G.
AU - Wise, Paul
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/11
Y1 - 2024/11
N2 - Objective: To improve the well-being and sense of community of surgical trainees. Design: Residents were invited to participate in confidential discussion groups during protected education time to have a safe space to support each other through common struggles. The groups were facilitated by licensed mental health professionals with experience working with medical trainees. An anonymous voluntary wellness survey and a qualitative feedback survey were used to understand residents’ experience participating in these discussion groups. Setting: Single large academic institution. Participants: General surgery and obstetrics and gynecology residents. Results: 677 resident responses to the wellness survey were collected between 2020 and 2023. Compared to residents who participated in < 5 discussion group sessions, residents participating in ≥ 5 sessions reported improved self-perception of their own competency and capability (p = 0.012), and in their ability to contribute to others’ well-being (p = 0.045). They also reported considering more of their co-residents as friends (p = 0.002), increased willingness to discuss personal problems with their co-residents (p < 0.001), and were more likely to report recently working with peers to solve a common problem (p = 0.041). In a second qualitative survey (n = 53), resident feedback revealed an appreciation for the opportunity to discuss shared experiences, creating community, having a safe space and dedicated time for introspection, and receiving input from a therapist. Opportunities for improvement included providing more structure to the discussion, increasing the frequency of group meetings, and focusing on developing coping skills. Conclusion: Therapist-facilitated discussion groups can improve aspects of trainees’ mental well-being and help foster relatedness, community, and shared problem solving with peers. Residency programs should consider incorporating similar programs into their wellness initiatives.
AB - Objective: To improve the well-being and sense of community of surgical trainees. Design: Residents were invited to participate in confidential discussion groups during protected education time to have a safe space to support each other through common struggles. The groups were facilitated by licensed mental health professionals with experience working with medical trainees. An anonymous voluntary wellness survey and a qualitative feedback survey were used to understand residents’ experience participating in these discussion groups. Setting: Single large academic institution. Participants: General surgery and obstetrics and gynecology residents. Results: 677 resident responses to the wellness survey were collected between 2020 and 2023. Compared to residents who participated in < 5 discussion group sessions, residents participating in ≥ 5 sessions reported improved self-perception of their own competency and capability (p = 0.012), and in their ability to contribute to others’ well-being (p = 0.045). They also reported considering more of their co-residents as friends (p = 0.002), increased willingness to discuss personal problems with their co-residents (p < 0.001), and were more likely to report recently working with peers to solve a common problem (p = 0.041). In a second qualitative survey (n = 53), resident feedback revealed an appreciation for the opportunity to discuss shared experiences, creating community, having a safe space and dedicated time for introspection, and receiving input from a therapist. Opportunities for improvement included providing more structure to the discussion, increasing the frequency of group meetings, and focusing on developing coping skills. Conclusion: Therapist-facilitated discussion groups can improve aspects of trainees’ mental well-being and help foster relatedness, community, and shared problem solving with peers. Residency programs should consider incorporating similar programs into their wellness initiatives.
KW - group therapy
KW - mental health
KW - mindfulness
KW - resident wellbeing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85204741901&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.08.014
DO - 10.1016/j.jsurg.2024.08.014
M3 - Article
C2 - 39321696
AN - SCOPUS:85204741901
SN - 1931-7204
VL - 81
SP - 1798
EP - 1806
JO - Journal of Surgical Education
JF - Journal of Surgical Education
IS - 11
ER -