Journal article
Post ICU Resident Debrief Effects on Resident Burnout and Resiliency
Academic pediatrics, Vol.25(8), 102970
11/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2025.102970
Abstract
Objectives/Background: Among physicians, trainees have the highest rates of burnout, especially when compared to age-matched controls. Wilson et al report that lack of meaningful social connections as well as lack of time to process traumatic events are associated with higher levels of burnout for physicians. Our goal is to improve pediatric resident burnout, well-being, and resiliency by implementing formal debriefing sessions after rotations in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
Methods: This study was approved by the University of Iowa IRB (# 202405420). A preassessment of burnout and resilience levels was done with pediatric residents prior to implementation of sessions. We used the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Brief Resiliency Score (BRS). The debriefs were case-based discussions of patients identified by the residents as emotionally challenging. After the session, residents completed a post-intervention burnout and resiliency survey. All surveys were created and distributed using Qualtrics software provided by the University of Iowa.
Results: The initial survey had a response rate of 52% (26/50) among all pediatric resident trainees. 91% of residents said both their resiliency (21/23) and burnout (20/23), were affected by NICU and PICU rotations. Pre-debrief, the BRS was filled out by 17/50 residents. BRS scores ranged from 1.8-4.4. 12/17 (70%) of residents had normal levels of resiliency, 4/17 (23.5%) had low resiliency scores and 1/17 (5.8%) had high level of resiliency. 12/18 (66%) of residents scored high burnout in at least one category on the MBI. Post- debrief data collection is ongoing, preliminary data after 3 months finds 2/9 (22%) scored high levels of resiliency, 6/9 (66%) normal levels of resiliency and 1/9 (11%) low levels of resiliency. Mean resiliency score average pre debrief was 3.2 and post debrief average is 3.7 (Paired T test p=0.054). 5/10 (50%) scored high burnout in at least one category on the MBI. Post debrief data is all from participants in the debrief sessions.
Conclusion: Preliminary data collected after initiation of debriefing sessions shows a trend of improvement in resiliency and burnout scores, however generalization is still limited given the low number of responses. This supports our objective that resident debrief sessions may be protective against worsening burnout and resiliency scores after NICU and PICU rotations.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Post ICU Resident Debrief Effects on Resident Burnout and Resiliency
- Creators
- Lauren Roach - University of IowaAmy Hobson - University of IowaSamuel Richey - University of IowaShilpa Balikai - University of IowaGlenda Rabe - University of IowaAbimbola Olayinka - University of IowaKristin Wurster - University of Iowa Health CareCarolina Quintana-Grijalba - University of Iowa, Critical Care
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Academic pediatrics, Vol.25(8), 102970
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.acap.2025.102970
- ISSN
- 1876-2859
- Publisher
- Elsevier Inc
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/2025
- Academic Unit
- Critical Care; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Neonatology; General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9985034938302771
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