A Perspective on Wellness in Anesthesiology Residency Programs: A Multi-Strategy Approach

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Wellness
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Resident physicians face higher risks of burnout and depression than the general population.
• Addressing physician wellness is critical for healthcare system sustainability and quality of care.
• Previous frameworks exist to guide interventions for resident wellness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of approaches to conceptualize and intervene on resident wellness.
• To apply the 9-strategies framework for improving wellness.
• To integrate literature review with practical experiences from an anesthesiology residency program.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of relevant studies on resident wellness interventions.
• Application of the 9-strategies framework by Shanafelt et al.
• Case examples and experiences from an anesthesiology residency program.

Main Results:

• Identification of key literature supporting each of the nine wellness strategies.
• Examples of successful and challenging interventions within an anesthesiology residency.
• Discussion of the practical implementation of wellness strategies in a residency setting.

Conclusions:

• A structured framework can effectively guide interventions to improve resident physician wellness.
• Combining literature evidence with program-specific experiences offers a comprehensive approach.
• Proactive and multifaceted strategies are essential for mitigating burnout and enhancing resident well-being.