Pediatric resident support group. A 7-year longitudinal experience

W. P. Metz and P. Pollack
Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester 01655.

OBJECTIVE--To describe the structure and format of a long-term pediatric resident support group and describe its evolution over time. DESIGN--Survey with a semistructured questionnaire of all available current and past group members (N = 59). SETTING--University-based pediatric residency training program. INTERVENTIONS--None. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS--The pediatric resident support group has met weekly and continuously during the past 7 years. Most residents (80%) attend regularly and completed the survey. Based on their responses, the coleaders' clinical experience, and review of the literature, guidelines are proposed for the structure and process of the group, including the group composition, format, and the leaders' role which account for its ongoing success. Specific issues in initiating the group and negotiating the July transition are discussed. CONCLUSIONS--Residents have consistently valued this pediatric resident support group as an integral part of their training program where feelings and information can be shared in a nonjudgemental setting. Optimally, it can involve residents at all levels of training, with leaders defining and maintaining the boundaries and format.