Surgeon and Surgical Trainee Experiences After Adverse Patient Events

Key Points Question How are surgeons and surgical trainees affected by adverse patient events, and what coping mechanisms are used? Findings This mixed-methods study surveyed 93 surgical trainees and interviewed 23 faculty and found that surgeons and trainees frequently grapple with the personal impact of adverse events. Trainees who identified as female and/or from a minority racial or ethnic background more frequently reported negative psychological consequences, and surgeons described opportunities to reduce stigma and improve support mechanisms. Meaning These findings suggest that the negative personal impact of adverse events is underrecognized but nearly universal in surgery; more formal structures to restore surgeon and trainee well-being are warranted and may be particularly helpful for underrepresented groups.