Implementation and Assessment of Mentoring and Professionalism in Training (MAP-IT): A Humanistic Curriculum as a Tool to Address Burnout in Surgical Residents

Abstract

Mentoring and Professionalism in Training (MAP-IT), a humanistic mentorship program, has demonstrated positive impact in non-surgical fields. This study assesses the feasibility of implementing MAP-IT in surgical residency and adapts MAP-IT to include residents-as-teachers (RAT). We hypothesize that MAP-IT will benefit surgical residents by building humanistic teaching skills, increasing resilience, reducing burnout, and improving connectedness. MAP-IT was implemented monthly during protected educational time. Faculty surgeons who had previously completed MAP-IT served as facilitators. Small groups consisted of 12 trainees, two faculty facilitators, and one resident facilitator. Each session comprised 60 minutes of reflection,readings, and discussion surrounding humanistic mentoring skills. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Humanistic Teaching Practices Effectiveness Questionnaire (HTPE) were administered before and after participation in MAP-IT. Qualitative interviews and surveys assessed residents' perspectives of the MAP-IT program. MAP-IT was implemented at Northwell-North Shore/LIJ in Manhasset, NY in a general surgery residency program hosted by two tertiary care hospitals within a large health system. 55 residents participated as learners, five residents served as resident-facilitators, and 10 surgical faculty served as paired-facilitators of the MAP-IT course. 31.6% of residents had participated in a reflective medicine curriculum prior to MAP-IT, and these residents reported greater resilience and less burnout. This disparity was eliminated after participation in MAP-IT. Frequency of burnout was reduced from 64.1% to 46.1% after MAP-IT participation. Post-program, residents reported greater effectiveness in humanistic teaching practices when compared to baseline assessments. Quantitative and qualitative feedback demonstrated that MAP-IT was well received by resident participants and addressed a gap in their surgical training. A humanistic mentorship program involving RAT can be effectively implemented in surgical residency, is well-received by residents, and addresses a need surgical training by building skills and improving resident well-being.