BACKGROUND: While resident distress and its potential to negatively effect patient care have been well documented, little is known bout resident well-being or its potential to enhance care. OBJECTIVE: We measured resident well-being and explored its relationship with empathy. DESIGN: Anonymous, cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: Internal medicine residents at Mayo Clinic Rochester (n=165, summer 2003). MEASUREMENTS: Well-being was measured using the previously validated Medical Outcomes Study 8-item Short Form (SF-8). Empathy was measured using the previously validated Perspective Taking (PT) and Empathetic Concerns (EC) Sub-scales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). RESULTS: Eighty-three (50%) residents responded to the survey. Mean scores for well-being as measured by the SF-8 were comparable to the general population, and empathy scores on the IRI were similar to other resident samples. Resident empathy on both the cognitive (PT) and emotive (EC) sub-scales of the IRI was higher for residents with higher mental well-being on the SF-8; however, this difference was statistically significant only for the cognitive sub-scale. The importance of a number of personal wellness promotion strategies differed for residents with higher mental well-being on the SF-8. CONCLUSIONS: High mental well-being was associated with enhanced resident empathy in this cross-sectional survey. Future studies need to explore the potential for high resident well-being to enhance medical care and competency in addition to exploring the negative consequences of resident distress. Studies investigating how to promote resident well-being are needed.
BACKGROUND: While resident distress and its potential to negatively effect patient care have been well documented, little is known bout resident well-being or its potential to enhance care. OBJECTIVE: We measured resident well-being and explored its relationship with empathy. DESIGN: Anonymous, cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS: Internal medicine residents at Mayo Clinic Rochester (n=165, summer 2003). MEASUREMENTS: Well-being was measured using the previously validated Medical Outcomes Study 8-item Short Form (SF-8). Empathy was measured using the previously validated Perspective Taking (PT) and Empathetic Concerns (EC) Sub-scales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). RESULTS: Eighty-three (50%) residents responded to the survey. Mean scores for well-being as measured by the SF-8 were comparable to the general population, and empathy scores on the IRI were similar to other resident samples. Resident empathy on both the cognitive (PT) and emotive (EC) sub-scales of the IRI was higher for residents with higher mental well-being on the SF-8; however, this difference was statistically significant only for the cognitive sub-scale. The importance of a number of personal wellness promotion strategies differed for residents with higher mental well-being on the SF-8. CONCLUSIONS: High mental well-being was associated with enhanced resident empathy in this cross-sectional survey. Future studies need to explore the potential for high resident well-being to enhance medical care and competency in addition to exploring the negative consequences of resident distress. Studies investigating how to promote resident well-being are needed.
Authors: K M Kash; J C Holland; W Breitbart; S Berenson; J Dougherty; S Ouellette-Kobasa; L Lesko Journal: Oncology (Williston Park) Date: 2000-11 Impact factor: 2.990
Authors: Elyse R Park; Jan E Mutchler; Giselle Perez; Roberta E Goldman; Halsey Niles; Vivian Haime; Cheyenne Fox Tree-McGrath; Mai See Yang; Daniel Woolridge; July Suarez; Karen Donelan; William F Pirl Journal: Psychooncology Date: 2016-05-16 Impact factor: 3.894
Authors: John H Eisenach; Juraj Sprung; Matthew M Clark; Tait D Shanafelt; Bruce D Johnson; Timothy N Kruse; Daniel P Chantigian; Jason R Carter; Timothy R Long Journal: Anesthesiology Date: 2014-10 Impact factor: 7.892