Background: Healthcare professionals may be repeatedly exposed to adverse events and trauma, which can have long-term psychological impacts. Clinical simulation activities are designed to provide technical preparation to manage stressful or complex procedures, but do not directly address the emotional impact of such events or how to recover following an adverse event. 

Aims: Clinical simulations offer a unique opportunity to elicit in vivo stress and introduce emotional processing and resilience skills, thereby enriching a clinical exercise with practical coping skills that may minimize negative impacts of professional stress.

Method: A pilot study paired a stressful simulation scenario for N=96 anesthesiology residents with a brief evidence-informed intervention emphasizing positive psychology practices of social connection, meaning-making, posttraumatic growth, and self-compassion. Residents reflected on physiological, cognitive, and emotional experiences during the simulation activity and discussed coping efficacy and social support. 

Results: Qualitative analysis of the residents’ reported personal experiences of the scenario from pre-intervention to post-intervention showed a shift from self-critical focus to more positive reappraisals and feeling more connected with others. Measures of stress and coping given pre-intervention and at 1-month follow-up showed improved emotional coping after the intervention. At follow-up, 54% of residents rated their emotional coping ability as extremely well or very well, an improvement from 47% pre-intervention. 83% reported continuing to use the coping skills from the intervention, with a particular increase in social support. 

Conclusion: This innovative, multidisciplinary intervention has informed ongoing work with anesthesiologists to improve coping for both acute and chronic stressors, resulting in a multi-year curriculum founded on positive psychology practices for resilience. Discussion will focus on the unique impact that positive psychology practices can have when integrated into medical education and practice, particularly when these skills are applied in true-to-life scenarios. A positive psychological approach can promote well-being and healing among healthcare professionals who are regularly exposed to stress and trauma.