Implementation of a pharmacy residency wellness program: Impact on burnout and mindfulness and lessons learned

Abstract

Background and purpose: Attention to wellness in the pharmacy workplace is occurring. To maintain accreditation, pharmacy residency programs must incorporate wellness and resilience initiatives.

Educational activity and setting: Orlando Health created a pharmacy residency wellness program for post-graduate year one (PGY-1) and post-graduate year two (PGY-2) pharmacy residents to address wellness and burnout. The wellness program included assignment of a mentor, development of a personal wellness plan, completion of monthly reflections, and wellness and resiliency training.

Findings: Pharmacy residents anonymously completed the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI) and Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) at the beginning and end of the residency year. A total of nine pharmacy residents were eligible to participate in the wellness program. Eight residents completed the pre-survey, and seven residents completed the post-survey. No change was observed in the overall median OLBI score (pre-program = 35 [IQR 31.5-37.3] and post-program = 36 [IQR 31-37.5]; P = .683). Similar results were found on the OLBI for disengagement and exhaustion, correlating with low burnout risk. There was no change in the overall median MAAS score (pre-program = 3.7 [IQR 3.6-4.1] and post-program = 3.8 [IQR 3.5-3.9]; P = 1.000). Overall, feedback from the pharmacy residents after program completion was positive.

Summary: Pharmacy residents participating in the wellness program at our institution had low risk for burnout and a high level of mindfulness pre- and post-program completion. Pharmacy residents enjoyed participating in the wellness program and found the program to be valuable, supporting its continued implementation.

Keywords: Burnout; Mindfulness; Pharmacy residency; Wellbeing; Wellness.