Establishing a Culture of Intentional Wellness: Lessons From a Family Medicine Resident Focus Group.

INTRODUCTION

Residency training is a peak time of physician distress, but also a venue in which residents can learn skills to thrive in a high-risk career. The goal of this study was to examine residents' perceptions of the value of teaching wellness as an integrated component of a residency program.

METHODS

Researchers at the University of Utah Family Medicine Residency Program conducted a focus group with graduating family medicine residents regarding their perception of wellness and wellness skills, after having completed an intentional wellness curriculum integrated through their 3 years of residency. We used open coding to identify themes of the residents' perceptions of the wellness curriculum.

RESULTS

Four interconnected themes emerged: (1) describing the relevance of wellness to a medical career; (2) the wellness curriculum as prioritized and intentional; 3) The value of wellness skills learned through the curriculum; and (3) the role of community ethos in maintaining wellness.

CONCLUSIONS

Residents consider wellness to be a critical facet of being an effective physician. Our results suggest that a culture of wellness can be created through deliberate and transparent curricular design, helping residents to view wellness as a priority.