Adaptation and Evaluation of Military Resilience Skills Training for Pediatric Residents

Abstract

Background:An evidence-based trauma-informed resilience skills training program developed for deployed military personnel was adapted and pilot-tested with pediatric residents. We anticipated high satisfaction ratings and changes in knowledge, beliefs, and self-efficacy related to coping with stress and trauma.Methods:The intervention included 6 skill-based modules covering emotion regulation, communication with angry patients and parents, reflective narrative, inspirational goal setting, problem-solving, and developing a self-care toolbox. An optional survey was administered before and after the training.Results:After training, 76% rated resilience skills as important, 60% were satisfied, and 82% indicated the training changed how they will respond to patient-related grief and trauma. They became more likely to believe attendings are affected by patient deaths and to know what helps them cope when they disagree with the medical decision making of others, more skilled in recognizing signs of stress and trauma, and more knowledgeable about evidence-based interventions.

Investigation of burnout syndrome and job‐related risk factors in veterinary technicians in specialty teaching hospitals: a multicenter cross‐sectional study

“…Resilience skills training has been suggested as a tool that individuals can acquire to protect themselves against environment induced burnout and this study identified a positive association between increased resilience and decreased burnout. The concept of resilience training was originally developed in the military environment for soldiers on active service to reduce the incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder following active deployment . A notable difference is that the armed conflict zone of the military working environment is inherently uncontrolled, unlike the hospital environment, which is open to control and modification by management.…”

“…Candidate exposures to be explored as potentially protective against burnout were selected based on previous studies of burnout and resilience in the fields of health care, teaching, and the military . They were grouped under categories of respondent personal characteristics and lifestyle, compensation package, workload and schedule, interpersonal relationships, exposure to intellectual enrichment, exposure to ethical conflicts, and physical characteristics of the work environment.…”

“…Psychological resilience is recognized as an important factor associated with enhanced ability to provide high‐quality care and increased sustainability of the health care workforce. Resilience is defined as the ability to respond to stress in a healthy way with minimal psychological cost . Resilience skills can be taught, and this has been suggested as a potential avenue to reduce burnout prevalence .…”

“…Resilience is defined as the ability to respond to stress in a healthy way with minimal psychological cost . Resilience skills can be taught, and this has been suggested as a potential avenue to reduce burnout prevalence . The relationship between resilience and burnout has not been evaluated in veterinary technicians.…”

Medical Student and Resident Burnout: A Review of Causes, Effects, and Prevention

“…Due to occupational stress and emerging burnout, medical students and residents are at risk for clinical sign of depression, professional impairment, drop out, Empathic connection with patients contributes to work satisfaction and finding meaning in your work and is valued by patients in their health care experiences. Without empathy, burnout prevalence increases in terms of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and diminution of personal accomplishment [56][57][58]. As these mentoring programs build inner strength, confidence, empathy, and meaning in their work, risk of stress and burnout decreases [55,57].…”