A Curriculum to Foster Resident Resilience

Abstract

Introduction: Burnout in medical trainees is extensive and a critical issue. It is associated with increased rates of depression, suicide, and poor clinical performance. Enhancing resilience, the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, is a potential tool to mitigate burnout and improve professional development. Our resilience curriculum consists of novel skill-building workshops to help programs cultivate resilience in their trainees.

Methods: This curriculum serves as an introduction for medical trainees and educators to the concept of resilience and teaches skills to help cultivate resilience and promote wellness. The sessions allow for identification of and reflection on stressful clinical events and consist of resilience-enhancing exercises, including setting realistic goals, managing expectations, letting go after medical errors, and finding gratitude. Through small-group reflection, the sessions also help participants discuss challenges with peers. This curriculum is intended for use with intern, junior, and/or senior residents and allows residency programs to address Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education milestones in the areas of professionalism, identification of system error, and advocating for system improvement. Materials include an introduction to resilience topics, guidelines for small-group facilitators, a learner precurriculum survey, and an evaluation form.

Results: Sessions were well received by interns. The majority of attendees felt more comfortable talking about burnout and medical errors and learned new ways to approach challenges.

Discussion: This resilience curriculum has been continued in the intern curriculum and has been presented at a national conference. Resilience training is an effective educational intervention to help trainees manage feelings of distress during residency training.

Keywords: Burnout; Medical Errors; Professional; Psychological; Residency Training; Resilience.