Wellbeing as Defined by Resident Physicians: A Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Wellbeing
• Graduate Medical Education

Background:

• Resident physician wellbeing is increasingly recognized as crucial by accrediting bodies.
• Previous research has focused on burnout, but few studies have captured resident-defined wellbeing.
• Understanding resident perspectives is vital for improving training environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define wellbeing from the perspective of resident physicians.
• To identify factors contributing to resident wellbeing.
• To explore resident-proposed improvements for residency training.

Main Methods:

• A REDCap® survey was administered to residents across various specialties and institution types.
• Responses were thematically analyzed, and data were analyzed using chi-square tests.
• Data were collected from 53 residents across 19 institutions.

Main Results:

• Wellbeing was primarily defined by mental and spiritual/religious health (33.8%), overall health (23.0%), free time/time management (23.0%), and job/salary satisfaction (18.9%).
• Residents proposed fewer hours, increased schedule flexibility (38.2%), and improved support/feedback (14.7%) as key changes.
• Nearly half of respondents felt they lacked education on career longevity.

Conclusions:

• Resident wellbeing is fundamental for personal and professional growth.
• This study provides a resident-centered definition of wellbeing, addressing a gap in current literature.
• The findings can inform the development of improved residency training programs that prioritize physician wellbeing.