Implementing a Novel Resident-Led Peer Support Program for Emergency Medicine Resident Physicians
Background: Residency training is a formative and rigorous experience, with burnout rates reported at 76%. Formal peer support groups have shown improvement in burnout among healthcare workers with anxiety and depression. Objective: Implement a peer support program for emergency medicine (EM) reside...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/943 |
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| Summary: | Background: Residency training is a formative and rigorous experience, with burnout rates reported at 76%. Formal peer support groups have shown improvement in burnout among healthcare workers with anxiety and depression. Objective: Implement a peer support program for emergency medicine (EM) residents and characterize utilization of metrics by demographics, burnout rates of participants, and overall session impact. Methods: An IRB-approved, longitudinal, prospective cohort study of 73 EM and EM/Pediatrics residents post-graduate year (PGY) 1–5 from July 2021–June 2022 was performed. Resident peer leaders were trained using a novel curriculum to lead peer support groups. Residents were invited to participate in biweekly sessions, with optional pre- and post-session surveys measuring demographics, burnout, themes discussed, and how they felt after sessions (Patients’ Global Impression of Change scale). Results: There were 134 attendances over 20 sessions, averaging 6 residents per session. Of 73 total residents, 37 (50%) participated at least once. All levels of training were represented, with half being female, 20% underrepresented in medicine, and 14% LGBTQ+. Overall burnout rates were unchanged for first-time attendances (49%, <i>n</i> = 18) vs. recurrent (50%, <i>n</i> = 11). Females had higher burnout at both baseline (60%, <i>n</i> = 15) and recurrent sessions (69%, <i>n</i> = 13). Following sessions, 94% of participants reported feeling immediately better and 100% of leaders felt prepared leading peer support sessions. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that residents utilize peer support, with many returning more than once. Despite stable burnout rates, 94% of participants felt immediately better after the session, suggesting that peer support is a valuable resource for residents actively experiencing burnout. |
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| ISSN: | 2076-328X |