Resident Wellness Initiative: Improving Physical Activity, Nutrition Education and Mental Health of Residents
Resident Wellness Initiative: Improving Physical Activity, Nutrition Education and Mental Health of Residents
This wellness initiative is aimed to assess the activity level, sleep habits and nutrition
 status of resident physicians. The investigators will monitor for improvement in these areas
 with initiation of an exercise program suited to the lifestyle needs of resident physicians.
The health and mental health benefits of physical activity, quality sleep and optimal
 nutritional habits are innumerable and widely reported. Unfortunately, resident physicians
 report participation in physical activity at reduced rates compared with the general
 population. Reasons for limited physical activity include fatigue and lack of free time to
 dedicate to exercise. The lack of exercise is combined with variable sleep patterns due to
 call schedules, as well as deterioration of nutritional habits, leads to weight gain and
 overall decline in the health of the resident physician population. Another neurosurgery
 department has implemented a similar program for their resident physicians and found
 improvements in weight, biometric markers and increased cardiovascular tolerance of physical
 activity.

 The activity goals are derived from the 2013 the American Heart Association/American College
 of Cardiology Guidelines on lifestyle management to reduce cardiovascular risk, with
 considerations made for different levels of ability among the participants, as well as
 limitations time.

 Fitness Protocol: The investigators will view any activity as better than no activity. The
 program will begin with activities geared toward the least fit/active resident to encourage
 participation from all levels of ability. The investigators will need options to increase
 intensity or difficulty for more advanced participants. Prior to introduction of the fitness
 regimen, the investigators would discuss appropriate progression of activity with a fitness
 expert. The proposed progression through various fitness goals is noted by type and timeline
 below.

 Step Goal: Each participant will be asked to wear a fitness tracker to quantify steps walked
 per day, among other health parameters. Goals will be set for number of steps per day and per
 week, with incremental increase through the course of the program.

 Cardiac Activity: Goals will be suggested for participants to complete cardiac activity
 through the course of their week. This may be running, which would overlap with the step
 goals, biking, or another cardiac exercise of the participants' preference. The goal will
 increase gradually over the course of the program.

 Daily Challenge: A physical challenge will be extended to each participant to be completed
 every day, increasing in difficulty or repetitions through the month. This will be a simple
 task that could be performed without any equipment, such as (but not limited to) a plank
 hold, pushups or jumping jacks.

 Weekly Workout: Workouts will be created by colleagues from appropriate departments
 (Kinesiology, Sports Performance) to be completed in a single ~30 minute setting or small
 5-10 minute increments in order to be integrated into the physician lifestyle. These workouts
 will be completed on an individual basis and will be simple enough for completion in a small
 space, such as the call rooms, with access to hand weights, resistance bands and the
 stairwell.

 Group Activities: Group activities will be planned once per month, with a focus on team
 building and physical activity. These group activities will be made available to non-study
 participants to encourage family attendance and participation in physical fitness. Some
 examples of proposed activities include soccer, sand volleyball, basketball.

 Education: Colleagues from nutrition, neuropsychology and kinesiology will be invited for
 guest lectures on a monthly basis to improve resident education on topics such as making
 nutritionally smart choices and appropriate meal preparation, improving sleep hygiene, and
 how to incorporate activity into our currently lifestyles.

 Study Timeline Pre-Program - distribution of surveys; biometric data obtained Month 1 - goal
 for steps. Group activity: movement safety. Month 2 - goal for steps + cardiac activity.
 Group activity. Month 3 - goal for steps + cardiac activity + daily challenge + improve sleep
 hygiene. Group activity. Repeat health surveys.

 Month 4 - increase goal for steps + cardiac activity + daily challenge + weekly workout.
 Group activity.

 Month 5 - goal for steps + cardiac activity + daily challenge + weekly workout + improve
 sleep habits. Group activity.

 Month 6 - continuation of above goals + setting individual goals. Group activity.

 Post-Program - distribution of surveys; biometric follow up data obtained.
Current resident within the Neurosurgery Program in the Department of Neurological Surgery
 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provided they are willing to participate based on
 completion of informed consent.

 Participants will likely be young adults in relatively good health status.

 Inclusion criteria:

 -  resident within the Neurosurgery Program in the Department of Neurological Surgery at
 the University of Wisconsin-Madison

 -  ability to participate in light activity, and being willing to participate.

 Exclusion criteria:

 -  Unable to participate in planned activities

 -  those not willing to participate

 -  non-resident department employees.