Changes in Health and Well-Being during Residents' Training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Wellness
• Longitudinal Health Studies

Background:

• Graduate medical education significantly impacts physician well-being.
• Limited longitudinal data exists on how physician wellness evolves during training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To longitudinally track and quantify changes in trainee wellness and health habits during the initial two years of graduate medical education.
• To identify specific lifestyle modifications occurring during residency.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal survey study involving postgraduate year 1 trainees.
• Surveys administered at three time points: initial, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups.
• Analysis of self-reported health, sleep, exercise, and dietary habits.

Main Results:

• Respondents reported worse health, reduced sleep (1 hour less/night), and less exercise (1 day/week) by the first year.
• Increased prevalence of skipping breakfast (22%) and dining out for lunch.
• Average weight gain of 2.12 lbs between years 1 and 2, with persistent unhealthy habits.

Conclusions:

• Physician health and wellness habits significantly deteriorate during the internship year.
• These negative trends do not improve in the second year of residency.
• Prioritizing interventions to promote healthy habits among medical trainees is crucial.