318 Virtual Open House: A Novel Community-Building Initiative in an Emergency Medicine Residency Program

Abstract

Burnout is highly prevalent in resident physicians and is associated with increased rates of depression, substance use disorder, and suicide. As a result, the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education has recognized the importance of addressing and preventing resident burnout, encouraging residency program leaders to support policies and practices that emphasize resident wellness. Residents’ pre-existing social support networks are integral to enhancing overall wellness. Unfortunately, the geographic separation inherent to the residency match process may limit in-person social support from residents’ families and friends. This emotional and physical distance may exacerbate residents’ existing levels of emotional exhaustion and increase barriers to communication with loved ones. Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel virtual open house (VOH) in fostering the residency community while enhancing residents’ and loved ones’ perceived comfort initiating and engaging in future discussions about workplace stressors. This was a prospective, observational, single-center study. All 76 residents at the Los Angeles County Emergency Medicine Residency Program and their self-selected loved ones were invited to attend a two-hour structured VOH during the regularly scheduled educational conference in April 2021. At the conclusion of the VOH, all residents and guest attendees received a voluntary anonymous electronic survey. A total of 155 individuals attended the VOH, including 60 residents (38.7%), 86 guests (55.5%), and 11 faculty (7.1%). Forty residents (66%) and 47 guests (54.7%) responded to the post-VOH survey (N=146). Overall, attendees reported that they enjoyed the VOH (95% of residents, n=38; 98% of guests, n=46). Most residents reported that the VOH fostered a greater sense of community (85%, n=34), believed their loved ones now had a better understanding of their training (88.6%, n=31), and felt more likely to discuss workplace challenges with their loved ones moving forward (77.2%, n=27). Similarly, guests felt more a part of the residency family (72.3%, n=34) and noted a better understanding of their loved ones’ residency experience (95.7%, n=45) and the characteristics of the workplace environment (93.6%, n=44). Finally, guests reported feeling more comfortable engaging in (93.6%, n=44) and initiating conversations (87.2%, n=41) about workplace challenges with residents. Themes from the free response section referenced guests’ appreciation for the virtual format in light of travel restrictions and greater insight into the intangibles of residency training. Our findings suggest that VOH is a sustainable and low-cost intervention that may augment residents’ social networks and encourage residents and their loved ones to engage in and initiate discussions about challenges during residency. Given the importance of social support in promoting resident wellness and the frequent geographic separation between residents and their pre-existing social networks, it may be useful for residency program leaders to incorporate a VOH in their existing residency curricula.