ABSTRACT #47

EVOLVING ATTITUDES TOWARDS SELF-CARE AND A WELLNESS CURRICULUM IN A PULMONARY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM

PRE AND POST-COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Rachel Potter, Sakshi Dua

PURPOSE AND GOALS: The COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive to Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) fellows training, including their wellness curriculum (WC). A WC was in place pre-pandemic and was interrupted for 1.5 years. We investigated shifts in attitudes towards self-care and continued interest in a WC in the post-pandemic era amongst our trainees. The COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive to Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) fellows training, including their wellness curriculum (WC). A WC was in place pre-pandemic and was interrupted for 1.5 years. We investigated shifts in attitudes towards self-care and continued interest in a WC in the post-pandemic era amongst our trainees.

METHODS: We administered anonymous surveys at a single institution PCCM fellowship program with 18 clinical fellows at the start of the academic year in 2019 (n= 16) and 2022 (n=15).

EVALUATION PLAN: We administered anonymous surveys at a single institution PCCM fellowship program with 18 clinical fellows at the start of the academic year in 2019 (n= 16) and 2022 (n=15).

SUMMARY OF RESULTS: 50% of the 2019 cohort rated self-care as “extremely important” compared to 33% of the 2022 cohort; however, when asked if their views on self-care changed due to the pandemic, 60% of 2022 fellows noted they value self-care more now than before the pandemic. 69% of 2019 fellows engaged in self-care at least a few times/week compared with 53% of 2022 fellows.

When asked about types of coping skills, both groups rated high on talking to someone (88% in 2019 vs. 79% in 2022). However, the 2022 cohort engages in more passive behaviors including sleeping (44% in 2019 vs. 79% in 2022) and watching TV (25% in 2019 vs. 79% in 2022), whereas 2019 fellows rated higher on mindfulness/meditation practices (63% in 2019 vs. 7% in 2022). When asked if a wellness curriculum was needed, 75% of 2019 fellows agreed, whereas only 47% of 2022 fellows felt this way. 27% of 2019 fellows noted they were “extremely likely” to attend a facilitated session compared to 0% of 2022 fellows. The 2022 cohort reported their most anticipated beneficial wellness activity as follows: 60% chose a social activity with co-fellows, 33% selected a free hour, 0% opted for a facilitated wellness session.

REFLECTIVE CRITIQUE: Over the period of 2019 to 2022, our fellows’ views on self-care shifted dramatically. More fellows in the 2019 cohort reported self-care as “extremely important” compared to the class of 2022; however 2022 fellows acknowledge that they view self-care as “more important” after the pandemic. The 2022 fellows engage in more passive coping skills, such as sleeping and watching TV, over a facilitated wellness session or mindfulness. The 2022 fellows also prioritized social interactions with peers, which may reflect isolation experienced during the pandemic.

Fellows in 2019 noted self-care and participation in a formalized WC as more important than the 2022 cohort, who prefer social interactions, sleeping, watching TV, and exercise.