Evaluating the Impact of Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, Burnout and Other Factors
on Pediatric Resident Health, Development and Performance
John D Mahan, MD
Oct 29, 2013
Background: During the past five years we have been interested in the interplay and interactions
inherent in in pediatric resident learning, skill acquisition and personal development. Our
residents, like all residents, are engaged in compelling tasks, including developing their
knowledge and skills, delivering important care to patients, and furthering their own personal
development. These efforts occur in the midst of important life events and evolving
relationships with family and friends. Working as a team with Kathi Kemper, MD, Scott
Holliday, MD, and Suzanne Reed, MD, we are committed to helping our residents develop along
all of these important domains – and intentionally providing education, programs and coaching
to help our young residents develop their personal selves to become the most effective physicians
possible.
Objectives: (1) Assess the impact of mindfulness practices and coaching on resident health,
emotional intelligence (EI) and burnout, (2) Assess the impact of mindfulness practices and
coaching on resident health and performance, (3) Develop more effective methods to improve
residents’ adjustment to residency training and medicine, and (4) Develop highly effective
residents who deliver high quality care to patients and are valued practitioners in their future
careers.
Significance: Personal social skills and the personal health of medical health professionals have
significant impact on physician effectiveness and patient care outcomes. Pediatric residents are
at the beginning of a long career as professionals dedicated to the health of children and the
development of the personal social skills of these young pediatricians, and their continued
nurture and development, will have much impact on the health of their patients in the future.
There is now data that EI correlates well with resident performance as measured by faculty. We
are interested to see if this holds true for patient care outcomes and patient/family satisfaction.
Methods to improve resident EI and understand and minimize burnout are just now being
developed and applied. These will need to be tested and further developed in this population of
young professionals. The potential impact on patient health and the health of practitioners and
their families is likely to be profound. The value to health care systems is likely to become more
obvious over times we pursue these programs and studies. This is a dynamic time in the
development of better ways to nurture and develop the physicians we need for the future of our
society.
Contact information:
John D Mahan, MD
E-mail: john.mahan@nationwidechildrens.org