Empowering Residents to Process Distressing Events: A Debriefing Workshop

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Adverse events in medical settings frequently cause provider distress.
• Debriefing is a strategy to manage distress, reduce grief, and prevent burnout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To equip senior residents with skills to lead debriefing sessions.
• To enhance distress management and support within medical teams.

Main Methods:

• A 2-hour workshop was developed for senior residents.
• The curriculum included facilitator guides, didactic content, video examples, practice cases, and surveys.

Main Results:

• Pilot study included 20 pediatric and medicine-pediatric residents.
• Residents reported a mean of 2.2 distressing events monthly.
• Post-workshop surveys showed significant increases in comfort and likelihood of leading debriefing sessions.

Conclusions:

• The workshop provides a model for debriefing training in residency programs.
• The training can be adapted for a wider range of medical professionals.
• Addressing provider distress through structured debriefing is crucial for well-being.