The use of emotional intelligence skills in combating burnout among residency and fellowship program directors

Emotional Intelligence in Medicine: An Investigation of the Significance for Physicians, Residents, and Medical Students - A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Physicians, residents, and medical students consistently report higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, and suicide compared to the general population. Emotional intelligence is a trait 1 possesses that has been shown to have associations with aspects of mental health specifically in the medical field. It has also been studied in business literature demonstrating multiple performance benefits. The purpose of this review is to investigate the relationship of emotional intelligence and mental health and well-being, clinical performance, and academic success with physicians, residents, and medical students.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted of studies investigating the associations of emotional intelligence on physicians, residents, or medical students between 2013 and 2023. Studies investigating the association of empathy within the study population were also included. Studies must have used a validated measure or reported a reliable method of measuring emotional intelligence or empathy.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine articles were included. The trait emotional intelligence questionnaire short form was the most frequently used assessment tool (28%). Mental health and well-being was the most common study outcome (67%). Twenty articles reported lower levels of burnout in those with higher emotional intelligence levels. (p < 0.05). Other protective associations of emotional intelligence included decreased levels of anxiety, stress, and depression (p < 0.05). Emotional intelligence was associated with multiple clinical performance metrics including patient satisfaction, perceived communication ratings, patient information recall, and improved decision making under operational stress (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Emotional intelligence has beneficial associations for physicians at all levels of training. Those entering with higher levels of emotional intelligence may be better suited to handle the psychological effects described within the healthcare field. Emotional intelligence can also be improved through training. Using emotional intelligence as part of a holistic screening process may help predict and enhance the success of doctors, residents, and medical students, which can contribute to improving the healthcare system.

Departure Decisions: Exit Survey of Family Medicine Residency Directors

Background and Objectives

Program director (PD) tenure, continuity, and stability may enhance residency program quality, yet many PDs do not stay long in their positions. No prior study has taken a comprehensive census of departing PDs to determine reasons for leaving the role. This study aimed to survey all exiting family medicine (FM) PDs to identify decision factors contributing to their departure.

Methods

From October 2021 to October 2022, we sent a web-based exit survey to all departing FM PDs. The survey asked departing PDs to rate the strength of 36 factors in the decision to exit the PD role in terms of job satisfaction, accomplishments, career choices, workload, preparation, expectations, and support. We used the Fisher exact test to assess all 36 decision factors and PD characteristics for significant associations with shorter or longer PD tenures.

Results

PDs submitted 73 surveys out of 109 invitations (67.0% response). We analyzed 68 with complete data. The median PD tenure was 5.6 years (mean 6.9 years). Most respondents (66/68, 97.1%) identified three or more strong factors in their decision to leave. The strongest factors reflected stable residency programs, an established succession plan, a desire for more personal/family time, and a sense that the time was right. PDs with tenures longer than 3 years were more likely to have completed the National Institute for Program Director Development (P=.001).

Conclusions

PDs leave the position for multiple reasons, often positive, and not necessarily due to lack of support and preparation. Further exploration of decision factors may inform strategies to support PDs in their positions.

Physician Burnout: Evidence-Based Roadmaps to Prioritizing and Supporting Personal Wellbeing

Current literature validates the magnitude of physician burnout as a complex challenge affecting physicians, patients, and healthcare delivery that mandates science-informed intervention. Physician burnout affects both individual practitioners and patient care delivery. Interventions, defined as roadmaps, to prioritizing and supporting personal wellbeing encompass organizational, individual, and moral injury, with virtually no consensus on optimal approaches. The purpose of this conceptual review is to present evidence-based innovative insights on contributing factors, mitigation, and designing adaptive systems to combat and prevent burnout. Science-informed policy initiatives that support long-term organizational changes endorsed by both leadership and institutional stakeholders are keys to sustaining personal wellbeing and ending burnout.