Innovating With the Times: Pathology Education in Context of Physician Burnout

Abstract

Abstract Introduction/Objective Learning a boundless volume of information, preparing for multiple exams, and getting involved in several other academic activities are just a few things that the current medical students need to tackle in a finite duration. While these challenges encourage learners to be their best, and prepare them for their careers as future physicians, they can also result in a largely unnoticed issue — burnout. Curricular reform targeted at developing skills to mitigate burnout is the need of the hour. To combat this issue in the pathology classroom, we used our tried and tested strategy of algorithms in combination with fun activities, particularly keyword mnemonics, to evaluate the impact on reducing burnout in medical students. Methods Lectures were delivered and recorded for students of semester 4 and 5, and sample algorithms and mnemonics were included. We also used pathophysiology case sessions comprising clinical vignettes and questions. Students were divided into small groups to solve questions and had to frame their own algorithms and mnemonics to help them. The method’s effectiveness was assessed using performance in past and current exams. Feedback was performed to gauge students’ perceptions Results Feedback evaluation showed that 86% of students indicated that algorithms and mnemonics not only strengthened the rote memory but also helped lessen the stress during exam preparation. 59% of students expressed that teamwork made it easier and fun to work. Almost 11% felt that mnemonics should be included as part of new lectures but they found it difficult and ineffective to make their own. Further assessment will be performed to analyze the strategy’s impact on burnout. Conclusion Classroom traditions that encourage shared problem-solving and decision-making leads to reduced burnout rates among medical students, with the added benefit of enhanced retention of complicated material and improved clinical correlation capabilities. The relationship between stress and memory is well-documented, and feedback revealed that this technique helped alleviate negative stress on the students. Our project underlines the essence of research studies to minimize burnout in medical students, for design and development of future interventions to prevent burnout at the outset in the training of future physicians.