An Examination of Measures of Medical Student Wellness

• In Event: Hilton Roundtable Session 6
  In Roundtable Session: Measuring What's Difficult to Measure: Investigations of Instruments Used in the Health Professions to Understand Important Latent Constructs

Abstract

Accurately measuring medical student wellness is necessary in order to develop programs that promote student success and reduce burnout. We examine three measures of wellness to assess the appropriateness of their use to make inferences about the wellness of second-year medical students: quality of life, perceived stress, and the Oldenburg Burnout Index for Medical Students. Exploratory factor analyses suggest revisions for all 3 scales, with the Oldenburg Burnout Index needing the most substantial work before use. Confirmatory factor analyses further emphasize possible scale revisions and provide support for a revised Oldenburg Burnout Index for Medical Students. Relationships between the provisional measures of wellness and USMLE Step 1 scores are also reported.

Authors

• Christopher Runyon, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Madeline DelVescovo, Drexel University

• Liselotte N. Dyrbye, Mayo Clinic

• Elisa Moll, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Nicole Taylor, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Miguel A Paniagua, National Board of Medical Examiners