Implementation of an Opt-out Wellness Check-in Program in a Neurology and Internal Medicine Residency
Alexander Buslov1, Kathryn Devlin2, Pooja Gupta1, Emily Lisco1, Christopher Henry1, Jeffrey Ratliff1
1Thomas Jefferson University, 2Drexel University
Objective:
Assess the impact of an opt-out wellness check-in program for residents.
Background:
Resident physicians suffer impaired wellness compared to age-matched peers. Opt-out wellness check-in programs may support residents by facilitating care access. We implemented a similar program for Neurology and Internal Medicine (IM) residents at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
Design/Methods:
Residents were scheduled for an optional 30-minute appointment with a mental health (MH) professional in which they were screened for maladaptive responses to work stress and provided resident-specific wellness resources.
A survey was distributed to trainees who were in residency during the program (exposed group) and alumni pre-dating the program (control group) to assess the program’s impact on attitudes towards and engagement with MH resources.
Results:
In Year 1, 61% of 76 eligible residents attended an appointment. The survey yielded 48
respondents (23 IM; 25 neurology). In control years, engagement with a MH professional ranged from 9-23% over 2017-2021. Among exposed residents, including the facilitated appointment, engagement rose to 65% in 2021-2022 and 73% in 2022-2023. Not including the facilitated appointment, these values were 38% and 45%, respectively. Engagement with MH beyond the check-in was 59% in those who attended a check-in versus 0% of those opting out (Fisher’s exact p=0.04, phi=0.5). 76% of residents who attended ≥1 session agreed or strongly agreed the session was beneficial for their wellness, with 90% of all respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that programs such as this one are important.
Conclusions:
An opt-out wellness check-in program was highly utilized and well-perceived by residents. It was associated with increased mental health resource engagement.