538 - Do Pediatric Residents Really Utilize Opt-in Wellness Interventions?: Longitudinal Data of Peer-Facilitated Support Groups at a Medium-Sized Pediatric Residency Program.

Sunday, April 30, 2023

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

Poster Number: 538
Publication Number: 538.324

Afnan Albahri, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Wilmington, DE, United States; Rebecca Rossi, Boston Children's Hospital, Somerville, MA, United States; Erin O. Whaite, UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, University Hts, OH, United States; Sarah T. Cohen, Private Practice, Chevy Chase, MD, United States

Presenting Author(s)

Afnan Albahri, MD (she/her/hers)

General Pediatrics Hospitalist
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia
Wilmington, Delaware, United States

Background: Since ACGME’s common program requirement change in 2017, integrating wellness curricula within medical education has greatly increased in medical training across the United States. There are few studies indicating benefit from opt-in wellness interventions like peer-facilitated support groups. There are no studies focusing on trainee utilization longitudinally and during different stages of training.

Objective: To determine the utilization of pediatric residents of peer-facilitated support groups as an opt-in wellness intervention and the sustainability of such a program within residency programs as a resource for residents.

Design/Methods: A needs assessment was performed at an accredited medium sized Pediatric Residency Program. A cohort of senior residents were oriented on how to facilitate support groups, mental health resources provided by the residency program, and underwent a self-paced course in Psychological First Aid. Registration was open for 1 month at the beginning of each academic year, with the confidentiality and anonymity of trainees preserved. Signed confidentiality and anonymity agreements were obtained from registered residents. The cadence of the peer-facilitated support groups was determined by each cohort. Structure of support groups included 1 peer-facilitator and the remaining registered participants. A virtual format was offered in 2020 given the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results:
The percentage of residents (PGY1-PGY4) who registered ranged from 20-26.6% of total residents in the pediatric residency program from the academic years of 2019 to 2022. The average percentage attendance of those who registered per session was 32%. Mid-winter sessions had a higher percentage of total attendance (35-50%) compared to other seasons (22-35%). Average percentage of utilization of peer-facilitated support groups was overall similar amongst PGY1’s (34.8%) and PGY2’s (31.5%) and PGY3’s (33.7%), whereas no utilization recorded from registered PGY4 in all academic years studied. Shared themes between the cohorts included transitions, lack of autonomy, winter and mood changes, and the pressure to perform with focus on positive coping mechanisms.

Conclusion(s):
Peer-facilitated support groups were utilized by residents who opted-in to the sessions as free, confidential, and anonymous resources provided within a medium sized pediatric residency program.
Now in its 4th year since the pilot, this intervention’s sustainability has been due to being primarily resident-driven with yearly transitions of leadership, despite the disruption of in-person meeting opportunities of the COVID-19 pandemic.