Resident Physician Perspectives on Mindfulness Education in Residency: A Multispecialty Qualitative Assessment of Clinical Care Impact

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Mindfulness training positively influences residents personally and professionally. Routine integration into residency may be impacted by limited understanding of the ways in which mindfulness training enhances clinical care. Objective We explored residents' direct experience and personal application of mindfulness in their clinical work following 10 hours of mindfulness training. Methods Mindfulness training sessions were facilitated between 2017 and 2019 for 5 groups of residents: pediatrics, ophthalmology, postgraduate year (PGY)-1 anesthesiology, and 2 different years of PGY-1 family medicine residents. Training was integrated into resident protected didactic time and attendance was expected, although not mandated, with the exception of pediatrics, in which the department mandated the training. Qualitative evaluation was conducted using a voluntary, semi-structured, de-identified phone interview within 2 months post-training. Reviewers independently coded the transcripts and then dialogued to reach consensus around emergent themes. Results Thirty-six of 72 residents (50%) who participated in the training completed interviews. Themes were similar across specialties. All residents acknowledged the potential usefulness of mindfulness training during residency. Six residents (17%) reported they had not applied the mindfulness training to their daily work by the end of the course. There were 4 emergent themes related to clinical application of mindfulness training: integrating brief moments of mindfulness practice, self-awareness, relational presence with patients, and maintaining perspective during clinical encounters and residency training as a whole. Conclusions After completing a 10-hour mindfulness training program, residents reported enhanced perspective-taking and relationship-building with themselves and their patients in clinical settings across medical and procedural specialties.