Assessing Resident Well-Being After the ABSITE: A Bad Time to Ask?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Psychological Well-being in Physicians

Background:

• The American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) is an annual assessment for surgical residents.
• Concerns exist that post-examination stress may influence resident well-being survey responses.
• Evaluating the impact of transient emotions on reported burnout, suicidality, and mistreatment is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between residents' exam performance and their transient emotions.
• To determine the relationship between these factors and reported burnout, suicidality, and mistreatment.
• To investigate whether exam performance and emotions influence reports of well-being issues.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to general surgery residents immediately following the 2018 ABSITE.
• The survey assessed positive and negative emotions, burnout, suicidality, and mistreatment.
• Multivariable hierarchical regressions were used to analyze the associations.

Main Results:

• A total of 6987 residents completed the survey (93.6% response rate).
• Residents reported predominantly positive emotions post-exam (mean positive emotion = 7.54, mean negative emotion = 5.33).
• Exam performance was not significantly associated with reported burnout, suicidality, or mistreatment.

Conclusions:

• Transient emotions and exam performance after the ABSITE do not appear to significantly influence reports of burnout, suicidality, or mistreatment.
• Mistreatment emerged as an independent predictor of burnout and suicidality.
• Burnout and suicidality are likely stable constructs, not solely influenced by temporary stress or emotions.