Self-compassion training to improve well-being for surgical residents

• Published in: Explore (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2023-01, Vol.19 (1), p.78-83
• Main Authors: Kratzke, Ian M., Barnhill, Jessica L., Putnam, Karen T., Rao, Sanjana, Meyers, Michael O., Meltzer-Brody, Samantha, Farrell, Timothy M., Bluth, Karen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Burnout; Burnout, Professional - prevention & control; Burnout, Professional - psychology; Humans; Internship and Residency; Mindfulness; Self-Compassion; Surgical education; Surveys and Questionnaires; Well-being
• ISSN: 1550-8307; 1878-7541
• DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2022.04.008

•Self-compassion training for surgical residents can feasibly be implemented.•Modifications based off qualitative program evaluation improve well-being scores.•Safe and distraction free environments enhance participant engagement. Burnout remains prevalent among surgical residents. Self-compassion training may serve to improve their well-being. To evaluate the impact on well-being of a self-compassion program modified for surgical residents. This is a 3-year, mixed-methods study using pre-post surveys and focus groups to identify areas for programmatic improvement and the subsequent impact of the modifications. A single academic institution. Surgical residents participating in a self-compassion program. A self-compassion program adapted from a larger course to fit the needs of surgical residents. Themes relating to the program's strengths and weaknesses were identified through participant focus groups. Well-being was assessed through validated measurement tools, including The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Perceived Stress Scale, and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6. 95 residents participated in the self-compassion program, of which 40 residents completed both surveys (total response rate: 42%). All participants demonstrated severe burnout pre-program, based on scores of at least one of the MBI subscales. Emotional exhaustion scores improved post-program, with larger improvements seen after program modifications (2018: 58% vs 2020: 71%). Focus group findings demonstrated that residents need a safe and distraction-free space to practice self-compassion, and program engagement improved following modifications.