Abstract
Purpose
The clinical learning environment (CLE) affects resident physician well-being. This study assessed how aspects of the learning environment affected the level of resident job stress and burnout.
Materials and methods
Three institutions surveyed residents assessing aspects of the CLE and well-being via anonymous survey in fall of 2020 during COVID. Psychological safety (PS) and perceived organizational support (POS) were used to capture the CLE, and the Mini-Z Scale was used to assess resident job stress and burnout. A total of 2,196 residents received a survey link; 889 responded (40% response rate). Path analysis explored both direct and indirect relationships between PS, POS, resident stress, and resident burnout.
Results
Both POS and PS had significant negative relationships with experiencing a great deal of job stress; the relationship between PS and stress was noticeably stronger than POS and stress (POS: B= −0.12, p=.025; PS: B= −0.37, p<.001). The relationship between stress and residents’ level of burnout was also significant (B = 0.38, p<.001). The overall model explained 25% of the variance in resident burnout.
Conclusions
Organizational support and psychological safety of the learning environment is associated with resident burnout. It is important for educational leaders to recognize and mitigate these factors.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the residents who participated in this pilot and Amy Hirsch for manuscript preparation.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Previous presentations
International Conference on Resident Education 2022, Montreal.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Nastassia M. Savage
Nastassia M. Savage, PhD, is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Department of Psychology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA and was Director of Organizational Assessment and Evaluation at School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
Sally A. Santen
Sally A. Santen, MD, PhD, is a Senior Associate Dean Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA and Professor at Emergency Medicine and Medical Education, University of Cincinnati, OH.
Meagan Rawls
Meagan Rawls, MS, PhD, is a Senior Institutional Research Analyst for Bon Secours Mercy Health and was Program Coordinator at School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
David A. Marzano
David A. Marzano, MD, is an Associate Professor at Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Jean H. Wong
Jean H. Wong, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Heather L. Burrows
Heather L. Burrows, MD, PhD, is an Associate Chair of Education, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.
Ralph A. Hicks
Ralph A. Hicks, MD, is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.
Brian M. Aboff
Brian M. Aboff, MD, MMM, is a Senior Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, Designated Institutional Official, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, VA.
Robin R. Hemphill
Robin R. Hemphill, MD, MPH, is Chief of Staff, Cincinnati Veterans Association Medical Center.