Resident Wellness

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Michael Ke Wang, MD, Olivia Geen, MD, Zi Hymn Mach, MD, and Zahira Khalid, MBBS, Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2023.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Burnout is common among medical trainees. Whether brief periods of training on the internal medicine ward leads to resident burnout is unknown.

METHODS: A survey-based study was conducted at a single academic institution. Medical residents undertaking four-week rotations on the internal medicine ward were included. Burnout was measured at the begin- ning and end of each rotation using the Maslach Burn- out Inventory – Human Services Survey. Burnout was defined as either an emotional exhaustion score of ≥ 27 or a depersonalization score of ≥ 10. Self-reported work- place conditions, behaviors and attitudes were recorded.

RESULTS: The survey response rate was 71% and included 148 participants. The overall prevalence of burnout was 17% higher at the end of the rotation com- pared to the beginning of the rotation (71% vs. 54%; P<0.001). Forty-three percent of residents without pre-rotation burnout developed post-rotation burnout. Residents with post-rotation burnout were more likely to report at least one suboptimal behavior or attitude related to patient care or professionalism (84% vs. 35%; P < 0.001). Respondents with new onset burnout were less likely to report being appreciated for their work, having their role as a learner emphasized, and receiving satisfactory support from allied healthcare profession- als. New onset burnout was inversely associated with completing a second consecutive internal medicine ward rotation (adjusted OR 0.19; 95% CI, 0.04–0.90; P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION: Seven in ten residents are in a state of burnout after completing internal medicine ward rotations. Interventions to mitigate burnout development during periods of high intensity clinical training are needed.