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. 2021 Feb;221(2):323-330.
doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.10.026. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Development of a conceptual model for understanding the learning environment and surgical resident well-being

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Development of a conceptual model for understanding the learning environment and surgical resident well-being

Lindsey M Zhang et al. Am J Surg. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Surgeon burnout is linked to poor outcomes for physicians and patients. Several conceptual models exist that describe drivers of physician wellness generally. No such model exists for surgical residents specifically.

Methods: A conceptual model for surgical resident well-being was adapted from published models with input gained iteratively from an interdisciplinary team. A survey was developed to measure residents' perceptions of their program. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested the fit of our proposed model construct.

Results: The conceptual model outlines eight domains that contribute to surgical resident well-being: Efficiency and Resources, Faculty Relationships and Engagement, Meaning in Work, Resident Camaraderie, Program Culture and Values, Work-Life Integration, Workload and Job Demands, and Mistreatment. CFA demonstrated acceptable fit of the proposed 8-domain model.

Conclusion: Eight distinct domains of the learning environment influence surgical resident well-being. This conceptual model forms the basis for the SECOND Trial, a study designed to optimize the surgical training environment and promote well-being.

Keywords: Burnout; Conceptual model; Surgical education; Surgical residents; Well-being; Wellness.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest Dr Shanafelt is co-inventor of the Well-being Index Instruments (Physician Well-being Index, Medical Student Well-being Index, Nurse Well-being Index, the Well-being Index) and the Participatory Management Leadership Index. Mayo Clinic holds the copyright for these instruments and has licensed them for use outside Mayo Clinic. Dr Shanafelt receives a portion of any royalties paid to Mayo Clinic. As an expert on healthcare professional well-being, Dr. Shanafelt frequently presents grand rounds or keynote lectures and advises healthcare organizations. He receives honoraria for some of these engagements. Dr. Riall is a certified professional coach and founder of Taylor Your Success Coaching. Dr. Nasca reports personal fees from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education outside the submitted work. The authors report no other conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, related to this work.

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