Using Human-Centered Design to Improve a Surgery Resident Well-Being Program

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Program Development

Background:

• Surgery resident mental health and well-being are critical but require continuous program improvement.
• The demands of surgical training, especially during the pandemic, exacerbate burnout and social isolation.
• Existing well-being programs need refinement to effectively support residents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of human-centered design (HCD) sprints in enhancing a surgery resident well-being program.
• To identify specific areas for improvement within the existing well-being program based on resident feedback.

Main Methods:

• A human-centered design (HCD) sprint was conducted with 34 surgery residents.
• Seven domains of well-being were assessed: Mental Health/Reflection and Therapy; Mentoring or Faculty Engagement; Physical Well-being; Retreats; Scheduled Breaks or Free Time; Social Connection; and Well-being Lectures, Emails, or Curriculum.
• Resident feedback was categorized into "How might we", Suggestions, Useful, and Not Useful.

Main Results:

• Well-being Lectures, Emails, or Curriculum (77%) and Mental Health/Reflection and Therapy (42%) were predominantly rated "Not Useful".
• Scheduled Breaks or Free Time was the most "Useful" category (42%) and generated the most suggestions for improvement (41%).
• Mentoring or Faculty Engagement also received significant suggestions and "How might we" ideas (31% and 29%, respectively).

Conclusions:

• Human-centered design (HCD) sprints are effective for refining surgery resident well-being programs.
• Resident-driven feedback is crucial for developing targeted and impactful well-being strategies.
• Prioritizing scheduled breaks and faculty engagement can significantly enhance resident well-being in surgical training programs.