The Association of Program Directors in Radiology Well-Being 2019 Survey: Identifying Residency Gaps and Offering Solutions

J Am Coll Radiol. 2019 Dec;16(12):1702-1706. doi: 10.1016/j.jacr.2019.06.017. Epub 2019 Jul 11.

Abstract

Purpose: The Well-Being subcommittee of the Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR) Common Program Requirements (CPR) Ad Hoc Committee and the APDR Academic Output Task Force jointly conducted a study of APDR members' current level of understanding and implementation of the 2017 ACGME CPR regarding well-being.

Methods: A survey instrument consisting of 10 multiple-choice and open-ended questions was distributed to the 322 active members of the APDR. The survey focused on three main content areas: APDR member knowledge of the 2017 CPR, composition of department well-being curricula, and residency well-being innovations.

Results: In all, 121 members (37.6%) responded to the survey. Of those, 67% rated their knowledge of requirements as incomplete. Responses also indicated that 74% of departments have not implemented a comprehensive well-being curriculum; 53% of programs do not offer the mandated self-screening tool; 15% of respondents do not offer residents protected time for medical, mental health, and dental appointments; and 42% do not offer their trainees access to an institutional mental health clinic. Survey comments offer numerous individual well-being initiatives from across the membership.

Conclusions: The results of the APDR Well-Being Survey indicate that many programs have substantial work remaining to achieve ACGME compliance. Well-being innovations were included in an effort to share best practices.

Keywords: ACGME; burnout; common program requirements; residency; well-being.

MeSH terms

  • Burnout, Professional / prevention & control*
  • Curriculum
  • Education, Medical, Graduate*
  • Humans
  • Internship and Residency*
  • Radiology / education*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States
  • Work-Life Balance*