Investigating the Impact of Professional Development Coaching Programs in Residents & Fellows

NCT04883307 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2017P000569
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 237
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of the Professional Development Coaching Program is to allow trainees to understand their development over time, find meaning and purpose in their work, and identify their strengths and how to use these to overcome challenges and stressors. Additionally, the program connects trainees with a faculty member who will work with them, grow to know them in-depth over time, and provide meaningful guidance throughout the relationship. There is an additional benefit to the coaches themselves, who are able to connect with other faculty coaches in a rewarding way, that provides faculty development in leadership development and positive psychology, and space to interact with a group of like-minded physicians.

Conditions

Burnout, Professional

Keywords

physician burnout; physician well-being; coaching; graduate medical education; surgery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Professional Fulfillment Index

  Stanford PFI

  Change from Baseline PFI to End of Study PFI at 9 months

• PERMA 15-item Self-scoring Instrument

  Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationship, Meaning, and Accomplishment 15 item self-scoring scale (15-75); higher scores mean a better outcome

  Change from Baseline PERMA to End of Study PERMA at 9 months

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Intolerance of Uncertainty

  Change from Baseline IUS to End of Study IUS at 9 months

• Hardiness Resilience Score

  Change from Baseline HRS to End of Study HRS at 9 months

• Gratitude Questionnaire Six Item Form (GQ-6)

  Change from Baseline gratitude to End of Study gratitude at 9 months

• Measurement of Current Status Part A

  Change from Baseline coping to End of Study coping at 9 months

Study Arms (2)

Coaching Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Paired with a coach outside of their specific area of interest; encouraged to meet 3 times over 9 months for a 1:1 coaching meeting

Behavioral: Coaching

Wellness Resources

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Emailed wellness resources

Behavioral: Wellness resources

Interventions

Coaching BEHAVIORAL

Professional development coaching based on a curriculum of positive psychology principles and coaching principles.

Coaching Intervention

Wellness resources BEHAVIORAL

Residents in the control group received three emails across the 9 month study period that contained materials related to physician well-being such as personal development and resilience, mindfulness, and work life-integration. Materials included recommended readings, videos, and exercises and were curated by members of the Association of Women Surgeons who were not involved in the coaching program.

Wellness Resources

Eligibility Criteria

• Gender Eligibility Details: This is a surgical society for female surgeons; anyone self-identifying as female can be a member.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Surgical resident in the US or Canada

You may not qualify if:

• Surgical resident from other countries; non-surgical residents

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Massachusetts General Hospital: lead

Study Sites (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Palamara K, McKinley SK, Chu JT, Merrill AL, Yu L, Parangi S, Makowski MS, Park YS, Donelan K, Stein SL. Impact of a Virtual Professional Development Coaching Program on the Professional Fulfillment and Well-Being of Women Surgery Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ann Surg. 2023 Feb 1;277(2):188-195. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000005562. Epub 2022 Jun 29.

  PMID: 35766397 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Burnout, Professional

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Occupational Stress; Occupational Diseases; Burnout, Psychological; Stress, Psychological; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Officials

• Kerri Palamara, MD

  Massachusetts General Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor of Medicine

Model Details: All participants (coaches and coachees) were required to complete a baseline questionnaire including an informed consent item, demographic characteristics, Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI), Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationship, Meaning, and Accomplishment scale (PERMA), Intolerance of Uncertainty scale (IUS), and Hardiness Resilience Score (HRS).10-13 Region was determined using self-reported cities and states as laid out in the US Census Divisions.14 Field of specialty or prospective specialty was also noted. The participating surgical residents were then randomized to the intervention group or the control group based on PFI's burnout sub-scale's quartile scores at pre-survey. Residents in the intervention group were encouraged to meet with a trained faculty coach for a 1:1 coaching meeting 3 times over 9 months. Residents in the control group were emailed wellness resources.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 30, 2021
• First Posted: May 12, 2021
• Study Start: August 1, 2018
• Primary Completion: June 25, 2020
• Study Completion: June 25, 2020
• Last Updated: May 12, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)