Virtual Delivery of Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Hematology/Oncology Fellows: A Pilot Study

Authors

Colt Williams, Mayo ClinicFollow
Sherry Chesak, Mayo ClinicFollow
Deirdre R. Pachman, Mayo ClinicFollow
Ross Dierkhising, Mayo ClinicFollow
Laura Rhee, Mayo ClinicFollow
Konstantinos Leventakos, Mayo ClinicFollow

Funder

Grant UL1TR002377 to the Mayo Clinic Center for Clinical and Translational Science from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare for this work.

Abstract

Introduction: Medical trainees experience a high degree of stress that predisposes them to burnout. This pilot study tested a scalable approach to deliver a validated resilience program (Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART)) among Hematology/Oncology fellows at an academic medical center.

Methods: This was a mixed-methods, prospective, single-arm clinical trial involving Hematology/Oncology fellows at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, USA. Four one-hour training sessions were conducted virtually with 26 fellows. Stress, burnout, and emotional resilience were measured at baseline, three months, and six months post-intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HSS), and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC2). Changes in mean scores were assessed using paired t-tests. Feasibility and acceptability data were obtained during a virtual focus group.

Results: Statistically significant improvements in mean stress (p = 0.004) and professional achievement (p < 0.001) were seen at three months post-intervention. At six months post-intervention, mean stress (p < 0.001) and professional achievement (p = 0.032) continued to improve, while improvements in emotional exhaustion (p = 0.001) and depersonalization (p < 0.001) also became significant. Focus group participants found the program beneficial and reported improved stress and work performance as a result of participation.

Conclusion: Virtual implementation of the SMART program is feasible and resulted in improvements in stress and burnout. Focus group participants found the training beneficial, reporting lower stress and improved work performance.

DOI

10.55504/2578-9333.1203

Recommended Citation

Williams, Colt; Chesak, Sherry; Pachman, Deirdre R.; Dierkhising, Ross; Rhee, Laura; and Leventakos, Konstantinos (2023) "Virtual Delivery of Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Hematology/Oncology Fellows: A Pilot Study," Journal of Wellness: Vol. 5 : Iss. 2 , Article 4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55504/2578-9333.1203
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jwellness/vol5/iss2/4