Larissa E Wietlisbach1, David A Asch2, Whitney Eriksen3, Frances K Barg4, Lisa M Bellini5, Sanjay V Desai6, Abdul-Rakeem Yakubu7, Judy A Shea8. 1. is a Medical Student and Research Assistant, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. 2. is Professor, Perelman School of Medicine and The Wharton School, and an Internal Medicine Physician, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. 3. is a Senior Researcher, University of Pennsylvania Mixed Methods Research Lab. 4. is Director, University of Pennsylvania Mixed Methods Research Lab, and Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. 5. is Senior Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Pennsylvania. 6. is Director, Osler Medical Residency, and Vice-Chair for Education, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University. 7. is a Research Assistant, University of Pennsylvania Mixed Methods Research Lab. 8. is Associate Dean of Medical Education Research, Perelman School of Medicine, and Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic forced numerous unprecedented systemic changes within residency programs and hospital systems. OBJECTIVE: We explored how the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated changes in clinical and educational experiences, were related to internal medicine residents' well-being in the early months of the pandemic. METHODS: Across 4 internal medicine residency programs in the Northeast United States that have previously participated in the iCOMPARE study, all 394 residents were invited to participate in a study with open-ended survey prompts about well-being approximately every 2 weeks in academic year 2019-2020. In March and April 2020, survey prompts were refocused to COVID-19. Content analysis revealed themes in residents' open-ended responses to 4 prompts. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-six residents expressed interest, and 88 were randomly selected (47%). There were 4 main themes: (1) in early days of the pandemic, internal medicine residents reported fear and anxiety about uncertainty and lack of personal protective equipment; (2) residents adapted and soon were able to reflect, rest, and pursue personal wellness; (3) communication from programs and health systems was inconsistent early in the pandemic but improved in clarity and frequency; (4) residents appreciated the changes programs had made, including shorter shifts, removal of pre-rounding, and telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 introduced many challenges to internal medicine residency programs and to resident well-being. Programs made structural changes to clinical schedules, educational/conference options, and communication that boosted resident well-being. Many residents hoped these changes would continue regardless of the pandemic's course.
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic forced numerous unprecedented systemic changes within residency programs and hospital systems. OBJECTIVE: We explored how the COVID-19 pandemic, and associated changes in clinical and educational experiences, were related to internal medicine residents' well-being in the early months of the pandemic. METHODS: Across 4 internal medicine residency programs in the Northeast United States that have previously participated in the iCOMPARE study, all 394 residents were invited to participate in a study with open-ended survey prompts about well-being approximately every 2 weeks in academic year 2019-2020. In March and April 2020, survey prompts were refocused to COVID-19. Content analysis revealed themes in residents' open-ended responses to 4 prompts. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-six residents expressed interest, and 88 were randomly selected (47%). There were 4 main themes: (1) in early days of the pandemic, internal medicine residents reported fear and anxiety about uncertainty and lack of personal protective equipment; (2) residents adapted and soon were able to reflect, rest, and pursue personal wellness; (3) communication from programs and health systems was inconsistent early in the pandemic but improved in clarity and frequency; (4) residents appreciated the changes programs had made, including shorter shifts, removal of pre-rounding, and telemedicine. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 introduced many challenges to internal medicine residency programs and to resident well-being. Programs made structural changes to clinical schedules, educational/conference options, and communication that boosted resident well-being. Many residents hoped these changes would continue regardless of the pandemic's course.
Authors: Tait D Shanafelt; Sonja Boone; Litjen Tan; Lotte N Dyrbye; Wayne Sotile; Daniel Satele; Colin P West; Jeff Sloan; Michael R Oreskovich Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2012-10-08
Authors: Sanjay V Desai; David A Asch; Lisa M Bellini; Krisda H Chaiyachati; Manqing Liu; Alice L Sternberg; James Tonascia; Alyssa M Yeager; Jeremy M Asch; Joel T Katz; Mathias Basner; David W Bates; Karl Y Bilimoria; David F Dinges; Orit Even-Shoshan; David M Shade; Jeffrey H Silber; Dylan S Small; Kevin G Volpp; Judy A Shea Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2018-03-20 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Johnathan A Khusid; Corey S Weinstein; Adan Z Becerra; Mahyar Kashani; Dennis J Robins; Lauren E Fink; Matthew T Smith; Jeffrey P Weiss Journal: Int J Clin Pract Date: 2020-06-28 Impact factor: 3.149
Authors: Anita K Blanchard; Jeremy Podczerwinski; Megham Freytag Twiss; Candice Norcott; Royce Lee; Amber T Pincavage Journal: J Grad Med Educ Date: 2021-12-14
Authors: Mansoor Malik; Sonal Gandhi; Ishaan Gupta; Haroon Burhanullah; Henry Michtalik; Shaker Eid; Michael Van Wert Journal: J Grad Med Educ Date: 2022-02