Resolution: S-20-3: TARGET MEDICAL SCHOOL BURNOUT BY IMPLEMENTING MANDATORY WELLNESS DAYS

[Valerie Lile]

1  WHEREAS, burnout is higher among physicians during every stage of training in comparison to the
2  U.S. general population; and

3  WHEREAS, burnout rates from 2011 to 2014 among physicians worsened (from 45.5% to 54.4%) and
4  satisfaction with work-life balance also worsened (40.9% to 48.5%)¹; and

5  WHEREAS, approximately 50% of medical students experience burnout²; and

6  WHEREAS, burnout is associated with unprofessional conduct and less altruistic professional values in
7  medical students³; and

8  WHEREAS, burnout and declining satisfaction are strongly associated with actual reductions in
9  professional work effort⁴; and

10  WHEREAS, burnout can undermine trainees’ professional development, place patients at risk, and
11  contribute to suicidal ideation⁵; and

12  WHEREAS, restful sleep and exercise were associated with a more positive well-being⁶; and

13  WHEREAS, self-care practices have been shown to improve burnout rates; now, therefore be it

14  RESOLVED, that the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) encourage medical schools to
15  institute mandatory wellness days, which would allow medical students to take one full day off every
16  four to six weeks from academic obligations to engage in wellness and self-care practices.

Explanatory Statement

Mandatory Wellness Days: This resolution seeks to address the problem of student burnout by advocating for a day off from school that students can use towards wellness. Students are often experiencing burnout because they don’t have time to engage in wellness and self-care activities during the school year. Studies have also shown that engaging in self- care reduces burnout.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26653297
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18765703
3. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/186582
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27046522
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26695473
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24129866

---

Submitted by:
Student Association of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (SAACOFP) Resolutions Committee 2019-2020

Action Taken: [Leave Blank. Will be Approved by the House of Delegates or Not Approved.]
Date: [Leave Blank. Date submitted to National Vice President and the National Office.]
Effective Time Period: Ongoing

[Author]

Posts