Resident-Led Peer Support Groups in Emergency Medicine: A Pilot Framework for Peer Leader Training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychiatry
• Healthcare Professionals

Background:

• Peer support effectively reduces anxiety, depression, and burnout in healthcare professionals.
• Residency training presents unique challenges, necessitating resident-led support initiatives.
• Limited structured training programs exist for residents in peer support leadership roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a peer support leader training program for residents.
• To assess the perceived effectiveness of the training and identify common session themes.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal, prospective cohort survey study involving Emergency Medicine and EM/Pediatrics residents.
• Trained resident leaders facilitated biweekly peer support sessions.
• Post-session surveys and the Resident Stress Checklist (RSC) assessed leader preparedness and session themes.

Main Results:

• 16 resident leaders were trained over two years, facilitating 52 support sessions.
• 100% of surveyed leaders (n=39) reported feeling prepared post-training.
• The RSC identified work-life balance as the most frequent stressor, frustration as the most common symptom, and emotional suffering as the most common consequence.

Conclusions:

• Resident-led peer support training is feasible and well-received by participants.
• The training adequately prepared residents for leadership roles.
• Identified session themes can inform future wellness curriculum development and training topics.