Exploration of Individual and System-Level Well-being Initiatives at an Academic Surgical Residency Program

Key Points Question Are there targetable individual characteristics and workplace elements that are associated with surgical resident well-being, and do these differ by gender identity? Findings In this mixed-methods study of 98 US surgical trainees, women surgical residents were significantly more likely to report high depersonalization and lower mindfulness tendencies compared with men trainees. Scheduling conflicts and organizational priorities emerged as the greatest barriers to using well-being resources; training in affective regulation skills, advance scheduling of time off, attention to work quality (vs quantity), and avenues of recourse for rectifying inefficient systems were cited as key components of an effective and holistic well-being program. Meaning In this study, participants indicated that multilevel and holistic well-being programs would benefit surgical trainees, but tailoring them to address individual characteristics and workplace elements is critical.