A survey of Balint group activities in U.S. family practice residency programs

The investigators conducted a survey of Balint group activities among family practice residencies in the United States. The survey was designed to discover how many programs have Balint groups as well as the groups' characteristics, leadership, and structure. Of the 381 family practice residencies surveyed, 93% responded. Of those, 66 offered Balint seminars to 115 different groups. Most groups met at weekly intervals for two to three years. Most groups were led by family physicians (32%), psychologists (25%), or social workers (19%). Most leaders followed the format of a spontaneous case presentation from memory. Support for residents and resolution of professional role conflict were rated as the two major objectives of training. The leaders rated an understanding of feelings generated when with patients and an enhanced sense of professional self-worth as the most attainable attitudinal changes.