ABSTRACT
Introduction: The culture of the learning environment is a major determinant of behaviours developed by residency trainees. This study explores anaesthesia residents perceptions of workplace stressors which affect behaviour and work performance adversely during the training period. Methods: We used two complementary qualitative participatory research methods based on focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews, with volunteers from each year of residency. The discussions were held in complete privacy and recorded on a digital voice recorder. Report of each discussion was shared with all participants to ensure credibility through member checking. Results: The stressors identified by anaesthesia residents which impaired work performance and generated stress were related to multiple supervisors, conflicting attitudes of different supervisors, workload and unsupportive organizational culture outside the parent department. Conclusion: Tensions due to lack of tolerance for divergent practices, diverse faculty, lack of constructive feedback and respect are the major stressors identified by residents which affect behaviour adversely. This information is a valuable resource for evaluation of workplace culture as perceived by the trainees, and planning self-development programs for faculty members and medicals resident.