672 October 2001 Family Medicine From the 1970s, Balint or Balint-like groups have come into and out of existence in US family practice resi- dency programs. Individual residency programs featur- ing Balint groups were profiled in the early 1980s by Scheingold and Brock. 1,2 However, the coordination of a sustained, national effort to spread the research, teach- ing, and practice of Balint’s work did not really begin until May 1990 when the American Balint Society was formed concurrently with the 1990 annual meeting of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM). STFM’s educational efforts from 1990 to 2000 and the defining values directing the American Balint Society’s mission were described in a recent article by Johnson. 3 The first and only report to date on the prevalance, composition, leadership, and function of Balint groups in US family practice residencies was published in 1990. 4 More-recent studies cite the contribution of Balint activities to family practice residencies without quantifying these activities. 5,6 Our current study updates the profile of Balint activities in US family practice residencies. Methods Sample and Mailing Procedures In April 1999, a computerized list of family medi- cine program directors was purchased from STFM. In May of that year, a four-page, two-part questionnaire was mailed to each director, along with a cover letter. The cover letter stated that the enclosed questionnaire was a 10-year follow-up survey by the American Balint Society to assess the current composition, leadership, and purpose of Balint training in US family practice residencies. The directors were asked to complete the questionnaire or forward it to a person in their program who could complete it and then return it to us. One month later, all programs from which no completed questionnaire had been received were sent a second copy of the questionnaire with a letter requesting completion and return of the survey. The Current Status of Balint Groups in US Family Practice Residencies: A 10-year Follow-up Study, 1990–2000 Alan H. Johnson, PhD; Clive D. Brock, MD; Ghassan Hamadeh, MD; Ron Stock, MD B a c k g r o u n d a n d O b j e c t i v e s : In 1990, the first and, to date, only objective study of Balint groups in US family practice residencies was conducted to measure their prevalence, composition, leadership, and function. The study reported here collected similar information about Balint groups. M e t h o d s : Surveys were sent to all 464 US family practice residency program directors, with a 1-month follow-up to nonrespondents. The survey included questions about the existence, leadership, meeting frequency, and objectives of Balint training. R e s u l t s : A total of 298 (64%) residencies responded. Almost half (48%) of US responding residences reported conducting Balint groups, and 40% of those residencies have more than one group. The frequency of Balint group meetings has shifted in the past 10 years. In 1990, 55% of groups met weekly; in 2000, only 15% of groups met weekly. Sixty-five percent of residencies require Balint participation. One third of Balint groups are conducted without a coleader, and the number of physicians leading groups is 22%, a decrease of 10% from 10 years ago. Forty-four percent of groups are led by psychologists, an increase of 19% from 10 years ago. Respondents indicated uncertainly about whether their groups were true Balint groups or simply resident support groups. C o n c l u s i o n s : About half of US family practice residencies operate groups described as Balint groups. They meet less frequently then 10 years ago and are less likely to have a physician involved in group leadership. Some of the groups may actually be support groups rather than Balint groups. (Fam Med 2001;33(9):672-7.) From the Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina (Drs Johnson and Brock), Department of Family Medicine, Ameri- can University of Beirut (Dr Hamadeh); and Sacred Heart Medical Center, Eugene, Ore (Dr Stock). Residency Education