Reducing Barriers to Well-Being and Promoting Mental Health Resources Through a Pilot Opt-Out Check-In Program for...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Physicians-in-training report high rates of mental health issues, burnout, and well-being concerns.
• Barriers such as time constraints, stigma, and confidentiality concerns limit access to care for residents.
• Burnout is linked to negative health outcomes, including poor self-rated health and sleep disturbances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a pilot opt-out well-being check-in program for residents.
• To evaluate resident satisfaction with the videoconferencing-based mental health support.
• To identify strategies for reducing barriers to mental health and well-being resources for physicians-in-training.

Main Methods:

• A pilot opt-out well-being check-in program was implemented for internal medicine and neurology residents (N=93) at an academic medical center.
• Residents met individually with a psychologist for a 45-minute session, including assessment, stressor identification, goal setting, and referrals.
• Participation rates and post-session satisfaction surveys were analyzed.

Main Results:

• 64.5% of residents participated in the well-being check-in sessions.
• Among respondents (57%), over 90% found the sessions valuable and convenient.
• The program demonstrated high resident satisfaction and support for continuation.

Conclusions:

• The opt-out well-being check-in program successfully provided accessible mental health and well-being support within demanding residency training.
• Minimizing participation barriers through opt-out structures is effective for workplace well-being initiatives.
• Such programs are a valuable component of multifaceted strategies to support resident well-being.