Impact of a Multi-site Peer-led, Storytelling-based Workshop to Teach Resident Physicians About Healing After Medical Errors.

BACKGROUND

Adverse psychological effects after medical errors are common, especially amongst residents.

AIM

Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a single workshop on resident comfort with, skills, and behavior change after medical error.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

PGY1 Internal Medicine residents at two residency programs.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

We used constructivism to design a peer-led, storytelling-based workshop with semi-structured small group reflections. Surveys based on Kirkpatrick's framework were given pre- and post-workshop and one site conducted a 1-year follow up survey.

PROGRAM EVALUATION

In 2023, 68 residents completed the workshop and survey, for a response rate of 90.1% (68/73). There was an increase in self-reported skills around recognizing (41% pre-, 75% post-, p = 0.001) and overcoming (37% pre-, 76% post-, p < 0.001) the effects of being involved in medical errors. A 1-year follow up survey, response rate 76% (25/33), found 71% (17/24) of residents felt somewhat/very prepared to respond to the emotional impact of errors on others, 13/24 (54%) felt their response changed due to the single medical error workshop they attended. Content analysis found that change occurred through normalizing errors and empowering discussion.

DISCUSSION

A single peer-led storytelling-based workshop can increase resident comfort with and understanding of the effects of medical errors on physicians with lasting effect, and promote coping with, and healing from, these events.