5. DO WELLNESS INTERVENTIONS IN A LARGE PEDIATRIC RESIDENCY PROGRAM IMPACT RESIDENT BURNOUT?

Abstract

BackgroundThe ACGME has called upon programs to more directly address resident physician well-being. In recent years, the pediatric residency program at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) has implemented multiple interventions aimed at improving resident wellness. Examples include the addition of an elective to the intern year, incorporation of wellness weeks, and visits for interns with a clinical therapist. The program monitors individual resident burnout biannually using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), a validated survey which evaluates three domains: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of burnout in pediatric residents, and to examine changes in burnout rates over time as the program has implemented wellness interventions.MethodsRetrospective analysis of MBIs completed by pediatric residents at CHP between July 2015 and July 2018 was performed. Burnout was defined as a high score in either emotional exhaustion or depersonalization. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results92 pediatric residents were included. Residents were excluded from sub-analyses if they did not complete MBIs for all the terms being analyzed. During the 2017-2018 academic year, 42% of residents experienced burnout. Following a cohort from the 2015 PGY-1 class (N=16), 80% of residents who were burned out during their intern year had burnout at later points in residency. Between 2015-2018, there was a decrease in PGY-1 burnout rates. Prevalence of burnout in PGY1s during the fall and spring terms was 40% and 45% in 2015/2016 (N=20), 27% and 40% in 2016/2017 (N=30), 22% and 28% in 2017/2018 (N=32).ConclusionsThe prevalence of burnout in pediatric residents at CHP was comparable to rates reported in the literature. When following a cohort of individuals through their residency, burnout seemed to persist over time. Burnout rates were higher for interns in the spring compared to the fall. With an increase in wellness interventions the program has seen a decrease in intern burnout over the past three years. The ACGME has called upon programs to more directly address resident physician well-being. In recent years, the pediatric residency program at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP) has implemented multiple interventions aimed at improving resident wellness. Examples include the addition of an elective to the intern year, incorporation of wellness weeks, and visits for interns with a clinical therapist. The program monitors individual resident burnout biannually using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), a validated survey which evaluates three domains: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of burnout in pediatric residents, and to examine changes in burnout rates over time as the program has implemented wellness interventions. Retrospective analysis of MBIs completed by pediatric residents at CHP between July 2015 and July 2018 was performed. Burnout was defined as a high score in either emotional exhaustion or depersonalization. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. 92 pediatric residents were included. Residents were excluded from sub-analyses if they did not complete MBIs for all the terms being analyzed. During the 2017-2018 academic year, 42% of residents experienced burnout. Following a cohort from the 2015 PGY-1 class (N=16), 80% of residents who were burned out during their intern year had burnout at later points in residency. Between 2015-2018, there was a decrease in PGY-1 burnout rates. Prevalence of burnout in PGY1s during the fall and spring terms was 40% and 45% in 2015/2016 (N=20), 27% and 40% in 2016/2017 (N=30), 22% and 28% in 2017/2018 (N=32). The prevalence of burnout in pediatric residents at CHP was comparable to rates reported in the literature. When following a cohort of individuals through their residency, burnout seemed to persist over time. Burnout rates were higher for interns in the spring compared to the fall. With an increase in wellness interventions the program has seen a decrease in intern burnout over the past three years.