Effect of Balint seminars training on emotional intelligence and burnout among internal medicine residents

Abstract

Background: Balint seminars are widely used educational activities in family medicine residency programs. However, their impact on measurable outcomes is uneven and controversial. The discussions in Balint seminars deal with perceiving and understanding the emotions of the participants. Objective: This study measures the effect of Balint seminars on the emotional intelligence (EI) and burnout of internal medicine residents at the American University of Beirut. Design: Quasi-experimental observational pretest–posttest study. Setting: In all, 27 internal medicine residents at the American University of Beirut. Methods: Bi-weekly Balint seminars were delivered to internal medicine residents throughout the academic year. EI using Mayer Salovey and Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) and burnout level using Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) were measured at the beginning and end of the academic year. Results: A total of 20 Balint seminars were delivered. On average, residents attended six sessions with standard deviation ( SD) of 2. Using paired t-tests to compare post- and pre-total EI scores, there was no significant difference between the two scores (mean difference post-pre = -0.6 ± 9.7, p = .738). Gender was the most important predictor of the difference between pre- and post-total EI scores (women are the reference, β = -8.403, p = .007) as compared to understanding emotions baseline score (β = -0.263, p = .003). A significant proportion of residents (22.2%–29.6%) showed severe burnout levels on at least one of the three domains of burnout at baseline; however, Balint seminars did not have any effect on any of the burnout domains. Conclusions: Balint seminars may have the beneficial effect of improving emotional intelligence among women. Balint seminars did not improve the burnout levels of internal medicine residents. Optimizing attendance of the Balint sessions may affect the outcomes attributable to Balint seminars.