The positive impact of an innovative welcome day on the mental health of first-year family medicine residents : a qualitative and quantitative study in East Occitanie.ie
Helena ALONSO VALENCIA, Paula SALA IVARS, Raisa ÁLVAREZ PANIAGUA, Hana RUFEROVÁ, Carolina CORDOVIL, Ozden GOKDEMIR and Marie BOURNE
Several recent studies show that medical students are a population at risk in terms of mental health. In the 2018 government report by Dr. Donata Marra on the quality of life of healthcare students, it is recommended to "develop a genuine faculty policy that promotes student well-being and personal success." Thus, in 2024, the University Department of General Medicine of Montpellier-Nîmes redesigned the welcome day for first-year family medicine residents. The day was organized as a "scavenger hunt", allowing residents to discover emblematic locations within the Montpellier-Nîmes Faculty of Medicine and participate in various activities.The primary objective of this study was to understand the experience and assess the satisfaction of first-year family medicine residents who participated in an inovative welcome day. The secondary objective was to explore ways to improve this day.A qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews of first-year residents was conducted until data saturation. Interviews were analyzed by thematic approach. A descriptive quantitative study using a questionnaire was sent online to the same residents.Twelve interviews were conducted between December 2024 and February 2025. The results show that the first-year residents found the day enjoyable because they were able to have fun, share convivial moments, feel valued, and strengthen their sense of belonging to the faculty. It was also perceived as useful and supportive, fostering: the creation of connections, institutional reassurance, and a more serene start to their residency, both academically and professionally. The questionnaire responses were collected between December 20, 2024, and February 2, 2025. The questionnaire achieved a 68.61% participation rate. Statistics show that first-year residents appreciated the event and would like to participate again.This study highlighted the positive impact of such an welcome day on the mental health of general practice residents. Indeed, the literature confirms the presence of several protective factors for mental health that this day helped to activate, while also mitigating certain risk factors.This pilot study is the first study to highlight the relevance of this type of mental health intervention within the residency program and encourages its development in other medical schools and among other student populations.
