Impact of a Virtual Professional Development Coaching Program on the Professional Fulfillment and Well-Being of Women Surgery Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the effect of a virtual coaching program offered to women surgery residents in a surgical society.

BACKGROUND

Randomized controlled experiments evaluating the effect of coaching on trainee well-being and burnout is lacking.

METHODS

Women surgery residents in the Association of Women Surgeons were recruited to participate in a randomized controlled trial of the effects of a virtual coaching program on trainee well-being. Attending surgeons served as coaches after completing in-person training. Residents (n=237) were randomized to intervention (three 1:1 coaching sessions over 9 mo) or control (e-mailed wellness resources). Participants were surveyed at baseline and postintervention using validated measures of well-being, burnout, and resilience. Changes in outcome measures between presurvey and postsurvey were compared between study arms.

RESULTS

Survey response rates were 56.9% (n=66) in the control group and 69.4% (n=84) in the intervention group ( P =0.05). The intervention group showed significant improvement in professional fulfillment ( P =0.021), burnout (0.026), work exhaustion (0.017), self-valuation (0.003), and well-being ( P =0.002); whereas the control group showed significant improvement in self-valuation ( P =0.015) and significant decline in resilience ( P =0.025). The intervention group had a significant improvement in well-being ( P =0.015) and intolerance of uncertainty ( P =0.015) compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Women surgery residents who participated in a remote coaching program offered by a surgical society demonstrated improvement in aspects of well-being relative to peers who did not receive coaching. Therefore, remote coaching offered by a professional society may be a useful component of initiatives directed at trainee well-being.