When Things Go Wrong: Examining the Frequency and Aftermath of Critical Incidents Among OBGYN Residents.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency with which obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) residents experience critical incidents (CIs) during residency and participate in postincident debriefing.

METHODS: A survey was conducted to examine the frequency of CIs during training, abilities of residents to cope with CIs, and the impact of postincident debriefing.

RESULTS: Among the 27 residents who responded (93.1%), 82.6% reported involvement in one ormore CIs during residency. There was a statistically significant difference in the cumulative number of CIs experienced when stratified by level of training. Following a CI, 39.2% of residents reported having an opportunity to debrief and only 30.4% "always" had enough support to cope. Among those who had debriefed, 100% felt that it had helped them to process the incident.

CONCLUSION: OBGYN residents frequently experience CIs during their training years. Postincident debriefing is not the norm but is desired and may help residents process difficult clinical situations.