Emergency medicine resident wellness: Lessons learned from a national survey

OBJECTIVES: Emergency medicine (EM) residents face many challenges during residency. Given the negative effects of residency training and the paucity of information on EM resident wellness experiences, we conducted a national survey to characterize the current landscape of Canadian EM resident wellness. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of Canadian EM residents was done using an online survey created by a Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians Resident Section working group on wellness. Surveys were sent to chief residents in Canadian EM residency programs accredited by either the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) in English and French. RESULTS: Thirty-one EM programs were contacted (14 RCPSC and 17 CFPC), and 216 (42%) responses were collected. A multitude of negative wellness impacts were noted, including falling asleep while driving and motor vehicle collisions post-night or during a 24-hour call shift. Moreover, experiences included verbal, physical, and sexual harassment, and reports of low mood and suicidal ideation. Wellness supports were not always accessed after negative incidents. Residents reported deficits in formal wellness instruction, with support for formal EM program wellness time. CONCLUSIONS: Canadian EM residents face a multitude of psychosocial and physical wellness challenges, while supports may not be adequate. Opportunities exist to further investigate resident wellness with validated tools, engage stakeholders, and advance the EM resident wellness agenda.