Adapting Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as a Framework for Resident Wellness

Abstract

Issue: Burnout in graduate medical education is pervasive and has a deleterious impact on career satisfaction, personal well-being, and patient outcomes. Interventions in residency programs have often addressed isolated contributors to burnout; however, a more comprehensive framework for conceptualizing wellness is needed.

Evidence: In this article the authors propose Maslow's hierarchy of human needs (physiologic, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization) as a potential framework for addressing wellness initiatives. There are numerous contributors to burnout among physician-trainees, and programs to combat burnout must be equally multifaceted. A holistic approach, considering both the trainees personal and professional needs, is recommended. Maslow's Needs can be adapted to create such a framework in graduate medical education. The authors review current evidence to support this model.

Implications: This work surveys current interventions to mitigate burnout and organizes them into a scaffold that can be used by residency programs interested in a complete framework to supporting wellness.

Keywords: burnout; graduate medical education; medical education; wellness.