The Impact of a Structured Wellness Curriculum on Burnout Among Obstetrics and Gynecology Residents

Abstract

PURPOSE: Our primary aim was to evaluate the effects of a formalized wellness curriculum on the rate of burnout among University of New Mexico (UNM) obstetrics and gynecology (OBGyn) residents. Our secondary aim was to evaluate the effect of a wellness curriculum on rates of depression, alcohol abuse and suicide risk. BACKGROUND: Burnout is a pathological syndrome characterized by depersonalization, emotional exhaustion and a low sense of personal achievement. Burnout is a concern for resident physicians due to their heavy workload and low sense of autonomy. METHODS: A structured wellness curriculum was instituted at the start of the 2016 academic year. A 45-item survey, consisting of the Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), personal health questionnaire-9 (PHQ9), suicide behaviors questionnaire-revised (SBQr), and the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT), was to be administered at the start, midpoint, and end of the academic year. RESULTS: The study included 23 UNM OBGyn residents. Midpoint and end of curriculum surveys were collected as planned and demonstrated no difference in rate of burnout. Upon completion of the 2016 academic year 18 (78.2%) residents reported moderate to severe emotional exhaustion; 13 (59.1%) moderate to severe depersonalization; and 5 (21.7%) low personal achievement. SBQ-R identified 4 (18.2%) residents at high risk for suicide and AUDIT-C identified 15 (68.2%) at high risk for alcohol abuse. DISCUSSION: High rates of burnout, depression, alcohol abuse, and suicide risk did not change between the midpoint and end of a structured wellness curriculum.

Factors Associated with Burnout and Frustration among Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Fellows

“…Additional studies have been conducted to identify etiologies and solutions. The development of a structured wellness curriculum or creation of a yoga course for OBGYN residents failed to show improvement and have not been able to improve burnout rates [5,6]. In 1 case that focused on teaching wellness skills to residents, burnout actually worsened.…”

A National Curriculum to Address Professional Fulfillment and Burnout in OB-GYN Residents

“…The curriculum drew on research related to how physicians cultivate resilience in residency training, 15,16 as well as lessons learned from prior efforts to reduce burnout in OB-GYN residents. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Six interactive workshops addressed wellness through an introduction to positive psychology; incorporated exercises to increase empathy and gratitude, resilience, and organization and management skills; and presented methods for processing difficult events. The workshops also directly addressed program and organizational culture and included opportunities for interaction among participating residents (TABLE 1).…”

The paradox of teaching wellness: Lessons from a national obstetrics and gynaecology resident curriculum

“…Facing an epidemic of physician burnout, educators have created a wealth of interventions aimed at improving wellness among trainees 1,2 . Promising efforts in OBGYN have been limited by small samples at single programmes 3‐10 . The Wellness Subcommittee of the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG), a division of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, created a year‐long resident wellness curriculum.…”