WS9 - 03: INTRODUCTION TO BALINT GROUPS: A METHOD FOR INCREASING EMPATHY AND RESILIENCE WHILE REDUCING BURNOUT AMONG SURGICAL RESIDENTS
Katherine Fischkoff, MD, Oliver Panzer, MD; Columbia University Medical Center

Problem: Burnout is a recognized problem among surgical residents. Contributing to this is the fact that trainees in surgical residency frequently participate in highly emotional and highly charged situations. These difficult interactions can leave residents frustrated or unsettled and lead to unsatisfying patient relationships. While there is an ACGME focus on the need for residency programs to teach empathy, no clear teaching intervention or quantitative measurements currently exist.

Intervention: A Balint group is a small group of physicians who meet regularly and participate in a supportive facilitated case discussion. In contrast to traditional case discussions which focus on problem-solving and medical decision making, Balint groups focus on enhancing the physician’s ability to connect with and care for the patient as well as to cultivate the other related relationships. Following a case presentation, the members explore different perceptions about the physician’s and patient’s thoughts and emotions, and consider what is needed for the physician to build an empathic, fulfilling and effective relationship with the patient.

Feasibility: In our institution, the overwhelming majority of residents report having had difficult interactions with patients or other health care providers. 92% of residents say they would feel safe discussing these interactions with a faculty member of their own department. 54% of all residents say they would like to discuss these difficult situations in a structured setting.

Learning Objectives:

1) Define the purpose, essential elements and skill-based outcomes of Balint groups
2) Describe ways to start and maintain a group in residency settings
3) List resources for obtaining Balint leadership training

Agenda:

1) Introduction- What is Balint?
2) Description of the implementation of Balint groups in a surgical residency at an academic medical center
3) Balint experience for workshop participants- small group format
4) Full group debrief with discussion of the process, its applicability to a surgical residency program, group start up logistics and information for Balint training opportunities and resources