SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Gender Differences in Secure Chat Messaging Patterns: A Comparative Analysis

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This retrospective study examined whether gender differences exist in Secure Chat messaging among internal medicine residents at Mayo Clinic Rochester during non-ICU inpatient rotations from October 2023 to October 2024. Using Epic Signal Reports and resident schedules, the authors compared average daily messages sent and received across eight rotation types, separating analyses by resident role and gender.<br /><br />Overall, residents received more Secure Chat messages than they sent, regardless of gender. Across nearly all rotations, female residents received more messages per day than male residents, with significant differences seen in PGY3 Hospital Medicine and PGY1 Cardiology. Female residents also generally sent more messages per day than male residents, with significant differences in PGY1 Cardiology, PGY2 Pulmonology, and PGY3 Hospital Medicine.<br /><br />The findings suggest that female residents experience a higher Secure Chat workload in several inpatient settings, consistent with prior outpatient studies showing greater EHR burden among female physicians. The authors note that these disparities may contribute to gender differences in burnout and may reflect differing expectations of female physicians, including greater perceived accessibility. The study also reinforces that physicians, including residents, receive more secure messages than they send, highlighting Secure Chat as a meaningful source of communication burden.<br /><br />The authors conclude that further research is needed to understand why these gender-based differences occur and to assess the impact of Secure Chat on resident well-being, efficiency, and burnout.

Asset Subtitle

Stephanie A. Saey

Meta Tag

Author List Andrew Halvorsen, Hannah Nordhues, Stephanie A. Saey

Category Research

Concept Secure Chat

Concept Gender Difference

Concept Internal Medicine Resident

Concept Message Count

Concept Rotation

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Mayo Clinic

Presenting Author Stephanie A. Saey

Track Technology in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

Secure Chat

gender differences

internal medicine residents

Mayo Clinic Rochester

EHR burden

burnout

resident workload

inpatient rotations

Epic Signal Reports

physician communication

Secure Chat

Gender Difference

Internal Medicine Resident

Message Count

Rotation